ROCK HILL, S.C. ? A four-run eighth inning rally led Winthrop past VMI, 11-10, in the first game of a three-game Big South series at the Winthrop Ballpark on Friday evening. The win improves the Eagles to 26-16 overall and 13-6 in conference action, while the Keydets fall to 14-27 and 7-11 in league play.
A six-run sixth inning gave the Keydets their first lead of the contest and the teams traded single runs over the next two innings to bring the margin to 10-7 in the middle of the eighth. After a pair of strikeouts, VMI reliever Michael Devine (0-5) surrendered a two-run single to Eddie Tisdale and a two-run double to Matt Thielepape to account for the frame's four markers.
Winthrop closer Tyler Mizenko then came on and recorded his 10th save of the season, allowing just a leadoff single before retiring the next three batters he faced, with the final two coming via strikeouts. The win went to reliever Dane Yoder (2-1), who came on with the bases loaded and one out to record the final two outs of the eighth inning.
“I thought we played very good offensively tonight,” said VMI head coach Marlin Ikenberry of his team's 17-hit attack. “Adam Kruithof pitched extremely well in the middle innings, and Michael Devine's stuff was electric tonight. He got the first four batters he faced, then gave up the hit and walked a batter and it got away from him. His stuff is as electric as anybody's on this team, and I was really proud of the way he came out and filled up the zone. Our guys fought hard tonight, and this is an extremely tough place to play. Unfortunately, we didn't come out with the victory.”
VMI was paced at the dish by junior Tanner Biagini, whose three-run home run gave the Keydets an 8-6 lead in the sixth-inning rally. He finished the night 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and four RBI, while Colin Miller and Sam Roberts each plated a pair with their two hits. Justin Topping and Jordan Ballard each chipped in with three-hit outings in the loss.
Tisdale was 2-for-3 with three RBI for the Eagles, as he was one of five Winthrop starters with two hits in the contest.
The Eagles plated three in the first inning against Keydet starter Andrew Deal, though it could have been worse if not for Jacob Morley's over-the-wall catch to rob Thielepape's would-be grand slam in right-center field. VMI quickly answered with a three-spot of its own in the second against Winthrop's Robert Lake. The tie was short-lived, however, as the Eagles scored two more to make it 5-3 through two innings, chasing Deal from the contest.
The pitching staffs then settled in, as Lake and Keydet reliever Adam Krutihof traded zeroes for the next two innings. The Eagles moved ahead 6-3 in the sixth on John Murrian's RBI single, bringing home Tisdale after a two-out walk.
VMI then exploded for its largest offensive rally in two weeks, scoring six runs on seven hits. One-out singles from Morley and Miller cut the lead to 6-5, sending Lake to the showers in favor of Greg Hough. The left-hander struck out A.J. Yoder to begin his appearance, but surrendered Biagini's three-run shot on a 1-2 pitch to put VMI on top. Ballard followed with a base knock and scored on Roberts' gap-shot to left-center field, but the rally was cut short when Roberts was retired attempting to score on a would-be wild pitch.
Winthrop cut the lead to 9-7 in the bottom of the sixth on Kevin Nolan's single, but left the junior shortstop stranded at first base. After Kruithof allowed a leadoff single to Tisdale in the eighth, Devine came on to slam the door on a would-be rally, retiring each of the three batters he faced to keep the margin at two runs.
VMI tacked on an insurance run in the eighth, but could have had more after loading the bases with one out. Winthrop's Dane Yoder came on and got Roberts to hit a sacrifice fly to right field, then induced an inning-ending groundout by Alex Haitsuka to quell the threat, setting the stage for the Eagles' game-winning comeback.
The Keydets and Eagles square off in game two of the weekend series on Saturday afternoon, with first pitch set for 4 p.m. at the Winthrop Ballpark. Fans can listen to the contest on the VMI Sports Network, both online at www.VMIKeydets.com or locally in Lexington on WREL 1450 AM, or watch the game on the Big South Edge at www.BigSouthSports.com.
