ROCK HILL, S.C. ? VMI relievers Matt Edwards and Sam Roberts came on to record the final eight outs, stymieing the Winthrop bats as the Keydets held on for a 6-5 win in Big South baseball action on Saturday afternoon at the Winthrop Ballpark. VMI evens the weekend series at a game apiece and improves to 15-27 overall, 8-11 in conference play, while the Eagles fall to 26-17 on the season and 13-7 in league games.
The win continued Keydet starter Travis Smink's impressive run in conference play, as he improves to 5-0 in Big South contests and 6-2 overall this season. The left-hander allowed five runs on nine hits in 6.1 innings, collecting his 15th career victory, moving into fourth place on the VMI career wins chart.
Also moving up the career records was senior A.J. Yoder, whose 5-for-5 outing atop the Keydet lineup moved him into a tie for fifth in career hits. He scored a pair of runs for VMI, who got two RBI each from Jordan Ballard (2-for-5, 2 2B), Sam Roberts (1-for-5) and Jacob Morley (3-for-4, 2B).
“I thought our seniors played really well today,” said VMI head coach Marlin Ikenberry. “A.J. Yoder had a great day, going 5-for-5. We played offense very well early in the game. After going down 4-1, our guys battled back and took the lead. Smink went into cruise control after the second inning. I'm really proud of Matt Edwards and Sam Roberts coming out of the ?pen and shutting the door. It couldn't have worked out any better for us. I was really proud of the way that we played team baseball today.”
Starter Wade Newman (4-3) took the loss for the Eagles, surrendering six runs on six hits through 3.1 innings. Ken Monteith came on to shut out VMI for 4.1 innings despite giving up seven hits, while Tyler Mizenko recorded the final four outs, two via strikeout.
VMI grabbed a first-inning lead when Roberts' single up the middle plated Yoder. The Eagles answered with a four-run rally against Smink in the second. Singles from Sean Sullivan and Bryan Bogue gave Winthrop a 2-1 advantage before Kevin Nolan broke the game open with a two-run knock up the middle.
Smink settled in from there, allowing just three base runners through the next four innings while having two of them erased on double plays. The Keydets, meanwhile, cut the advantage to a single run on an RBI double from Ballard and a groundout by Roberts in the third inning.
VMI recaptured the lead in the fourth, as Newman surrendered a leadoff double to Graham Sullivan before plunking Justin Topping. Morley then delivered a one-out single through the left-side, plating two runs, to put VMI ahead, 5-4. The rally didn't stop there, however, as Ballard came through with a two-out double three batters later, scoring Morley with an insurance run to push the lead to 6-4.
Winthrop fought back to make it a one-run ballgame in the sixth, when Sean Sullivan hit his first collegiate home run, a solo shot to left field with two outs. Smink then issued a walk and gave up a single before baring down to leave both runners stranded.
In the seventh, Smink was lifted after a pair of runners reached base with just one out. Edwards came into the contest and induced an inning-ending, 6-4-3 double play to end the threat before working a perfect eighth.
Roberts moved from shortstop to the mound to start the ninth, retiring the first two batters he faced before Kevin Nolan singled to keep hope alive for the home fans. Following a walk, Roberts got Eddie Tisdale to ground out to second base, locking up the sophomore's second save of the season and VMI's first win in 10 tries at the Winthrop Ballpark.
The Keydets and Eagles play the rubber game of the weekend series on Sunday afternoon, with first pitch set for 2 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.
