CHARLESTON, S.C. - Sam Roberts delivered a run-scoring single to break a 3-3 tie and John Garrett pitched a scoreless ninth as No. 30 VMI defeated its military rivals, The Citadel, 4-3 in non-conference baseball action at Riley Park Tuesday.  The win continues the Keydets' best-ever start at 15-1, while the Bulldogs fall to 11-4 with the loss.

With the game knotted at three entering the ninth, Bulldog reliever Raymond Copenhaver (0-1) came on and recorded the first out, but hit Alex Haitsuka with a 3-1 pitch.  The junior catcher moved to second base on a wild pitch before Copenhaver struck out Jacob Morley for the inning's second out.  The Citadel then summoned its closer, left-handed Drew Mahaffey, to face the left-handed hitting Roberts.  Mahaffey ran the count full to the junior shortstop, who cracked a bounding single up the middle, plating Haitsuka to put the Keydets on top.

Garrett came on to pitch the bottom of the ninth, and needed just nine pitches to strike out the first two batters he faced.  He then hit Matt Simonelli with a 2-2 pitch and allowed a base knock to cleanup hitter David Greene, but settled down to induce a ground ball to third base, as Chase Worthington stepped on the bag to give VMI its fifth straight victory.

"That was a great college baseball game tonight," said VMI head coach Marlin Ikenberry.  "It was a hostile environment out here, and I think that really helped our guys.  What a huge at bat by Alex Haitsuka, getting hit by a pitch.  Sam Roberts then followed with the big hit, getting him in.  I can't speak highly enough of the way we're playing right now.  I really like the intensity our guys bring to the ballpark every day.  That was the fun part of tonight, the intensity of the ballgame.  It was a great college baseball game, and we've got another one tomorrow."

The win was credited to Keydet reliever Michael Devine (3-0), who recorded the final two outs of the eighth.  He came on in relief of Jeremy Brown, who allowed just one run in 4.2 innings, scattering four hits while striking out four Bulldogs.  Garrett, meanwhile, recorded his first career save, allowing just the one hit in one inning of work, striking out two.¬

The Citadel got strong pitching performances from starter T.J. Clarkson, who went five innings, allowing two runs on five hits, and reliever Matt Reifsnider, who allowed one run on three hits three innings. 

"I tip my hat to T.J. Clarkson, he did a great job tonight," said Ikenberry.  "It came down to a battle of bullpens, and Jeremy Brown did a fantastic job for us.  They had some great at bats against Mike Devine, but Johnny Garrett coming in and getting his first collegiate save was outstanding."

VMI's offensive attack was led by Cory Spangenberg's 3 for 5 outing, as the freshman drove in a pair of runs and scored another, while Roberts and Morley each went 2 for 4, with Morley scoring twice.  For the Bulldogs, the top four hitters in the lineup combined to go 1 for 14, while Greene, Kyle Jordan and William Ladd each had a pair of knocks.

The Citadel took a 2-0 lead in the second inning, when Greene and Jordan had back-to-back doubles off of VMI starter Chris Duty, followed by an RBI single from Justin Mackert.  The Keydets responded in the third, as Morley led off with a double then scored on a Spangenberg fielder's choice, sliding around the tag when the third baseman attempted to retire him at home.  Jordan Ballard followed three batters later with a run-scoring single, plating Spangenberg to tie the game.

The middle innings remained scoreless with Brown and Clarkson locking down the opposing offenses.  VMI took a 3-2 lead in the seventh when Spangenberg again plated Morley, this time with a single into left field.  The Bulldogs responded in the eighth, however, when Devine allowed a right-field double to Legare Jones, chasing home Jordan, setting the scene for VMI's ninth-inning heroics.

The Keydets and Bulldogs conclude their two-game series on Wednesday, with first pitch at Riley Park set for 6 p.m.  Fans can listen to the 100th all-time game between the two teams 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 has now won two in a row over The Citadel. The teams last met in the 2003 Southern Conference Tournament, with the Keydets eliminating the Bulldogs, 2-1, from the tournament hosted at Riley Park.
• The four runs by VMI are the fewest they have scored in a game this season.
• Cory Spangenberg has hits in 12 straight contests and 15 of VMI's 16 games this season.
• Tuesday's win is just the second time this season VMI has not had a stolen base.
• Jeremy Brown's 4.2 inning performance was the longest relief outing of his career.
• VMI is now 4-0 in one-run games this season and has won three games in its final at bats in 2010.