LEXINGTON, Va. ? VMI slugged a school-record seven home runs while starting pitcher Travis Smink allowed just one run through seven innings as the Keydets defeated Gardner-Webb, 21-3, in Big South action on Friday afternoon at Gray-Minor Stadium.
Sophomore Alex Haitsuka and junior Tanner Biagini each hit two home runs for the Keydets (13-18, 7-5 Big South), who collected season highs in runs (21), hits (25) and RBI (20). VMI scored in all but one inning in the victory, being held scoreless by starter Aaron Haynes (1-2) in the third inning. Haynes took the loss for the Bulldogs (15-14, 4-6 Big South), however, surrendering 13 runs on 15 hits through 3.2 innings.
Smink (5-2), meanwhile, allowed just a fifth-inning, solo home run to Matt Rizzuto in improving to 4-0 in five conference starts this season. The left-hander struck out five, and with the victory, moved into a tie for fourth on VMI's career wins chart with 14.
“I thought that our offensive approaches were great early,” said VMI head coach Marlin Ikenberry, whose team ran out to a 10-0 advantage in the second inning. “I was proud of how we played and competed today, especially the guys coming off the bench. Travis Smink, once again, did an outstanding job on Friday night for us.”
The Bulldogs could not capitalize off of a pair of hits in the first inning, before the Keydets went to work offensively. Biagini's three-run home run gave VMI the lead for good, and was followed later in the inning by Haitsuka's solo blast. Haitsuka's grand slam was the big blow in a six-run second inning, as he became the first Keydet in over four years to hit home runs in back-to-back at bats, when Robert Crumpler did so against William & Mary on April 5, 2005.
The Keydets built the lead with three-run innings in the fourth and fifth, before A.J. Yoder slugged his first home run of the season, a two-run shot to right field, in the sixth. VMI wrapped up its scoring in the eighth, as Michael Devine collected his first collegiate hit, a two-run home run to left field.
Yoder's 5-for-6 outing moved the senior into ninth place on the VMI career hits chart, while he also scored five runs and drove in three. Biagini was 4-for-6 with four RBI in his first career multiple-home run game, while Haitsuka collected his second two- home run game within a week, going 3-for-4 with a career-best six runs driven in.
Gardner-Webb was led at the dish by Daniel Cooke and Justin Loyd, who each went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Rizzuto hit his seventh home run of the season for the Bulldogs, who dropped their fifth-straight league contest.
The Keydets and Bulldogs wrap up the weekend series with a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon, with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. at Gray-Minor Stadium.
