LEXINGTON, Va. - Sam Roberts allowed just three hits in seven shutout innings as VMI claimed its fourth weekend sweep of the season with an 11-1 victory over La Salle in non-conference baseball action Sunday at Gray-Minor Stadium. The win continues the best start in program history for VMI at 14-1, while the Explorers fall to 1-11 with the loss.
Roberts (Prince George, Va./Prince George) allowed a leadoff single in the first inning, then didn't surrender another hit until an infield chopper with one out in the sixth. The junior had two separate strings of retiring seven consecutive batters, as he has now allowed just four hits and one earned run in his last two starts, consisting of 14 innings.
"Sammy did a great job for us on the mound today," said VMI head coach Marlin Ikenberry. "He did exactly what we wanted him to do, and that's to throw strikes, pitch to contact and get ground balls. I was really pleased with the way we played defense, being able to turn a couple of double plays. Graham Sullivan set the tone in the first inning with a big home run, and we expanded our lead throughout the game. I was really proud of the way our guys competed today, playing hard for the fourth day in a row."
While Roberts was blanking the Explorers on the mound, senior Jordan Ballard set the pace offensively. His 3 for 4 outing included a double, four RBIs and his 31st career home run, moving him into a tie for fourth place in VMI history. In the four-game series against La Salle, Ballard hit .583 with five home runs, seven runs scored and 13 RBIs, slugging 1.917.
VMI's 18-hit performance also saw Rob Dickinson go 3 for 3 with a double and an RBI. Cory Spangenberg, Tanner Biagini and Graham Sullivan each went 2 for 5 in the contest, with Spangenberg stealing two bases, Biagini posting two RBIs and Sullivan hitting his second home run of the season.
Tony Negrin led off the game with a single back up the middle, but Roberts retired the next seven batters in order. The Keydets, meanwhile, went up 2-0 on Sullivan's left-field home run in the first inning, then tacked on another on Ballard's third inning solo shot to right field.
VMI then posted back-to-back three-run rallies in the fifth and sixth innings. In the fifth, Biagini started the scoring with an RBI single, while Ballard plated another with a sacrifice fly. Dickinson then brought home Biagini with his double down the right-field line, making the score 6-0. In the sixth, another Biagini RBI single and Ballard's two-run double accounted for the scoring, pushing the margin to 9-0.
Roberts, meanwhile, put a pair of runners on base in both the sixth and seventh innings, but was able to get ground ball double plays in both innings to escape harm. Roberts gave way to reliever Andrew Deal in the eighth, who walked back-to-back batters, then saw Negrin score on a groundout when Alan Watts came on to record the final five outs in order.
The Keydets concluded their scoring in the seventh, when Roberts singled home Justin Topping after a leadoff double, while Spangenberg plated Jacob Morley by beating out a possible double play ball.
The Keydets take to the road over the next week-and-a-half, opening up at The Citadel on Tuesday evening. First pitch is set for 6 p.m., and fans can listen to the game on the VMI Sports Network (www.VMIKeydets.com or Lexington's WREL 1450 AM) or watch the contest on the Bulldog Insider (www.CitadelSports.com.)
Keydet Quick Hits
- VMI entered the day leading the country in slugging percentage by 48 points and raised that stat by two points to .675 Sunday.
- With two stolen bases Sunday, freshman Cory Spangenberg has 11 steals in his last nine games, and has at least one theft in each of the past five games. He also has a hit in 14 of VMI's 15 games, as does Sam Roberts.
- VMI won its 14th game in its 40th contest last season, coming on April 22.
- The Keydets currently have 35 home runs in 15 games. VMI entered the day second nationally in that category, while the school record stands at 56.
