CHARLESTON, S.C. - Freshman Coby Cowgill threw No. 30 VMI's first complete game of the season, allowing only an unearned run on four hits in the Keydets' 12-1 win over The Citadel Wednesday at Riley Park.  The win completes a two-game sweep of its military rivals for VMI (16-1), while The Citadel falls to 11-5 with the loss.

Cowgill (Norfolk, Va./Maury) fell behind 1-0 in the first and never allowed multiple base runners in an inning again.  He retired 15 of 17 batters at one point, with only a pair of hits by Justin Mackert breaking his string.  In just his fifth start of the year, Cowgill (3-0) notched nine strikeouts for the second time this season, working VMI's first complete game since Chris Henderson did so against UNC Asheville last March 21.

"The storyline tonight was Coby Cowgill going out and throwing a CG," said VMI head coach Marlin Ikenberry.  "For him to start the game in the rain, then get to the fourth inning, get a four-spot then have the game stopped, he battled through all that to give us a huge win.  Then late in the game, for him to just throw strikes up 10 runs, he really got better as the game went on."

The Keydet bats, meanwhile, pounded out 12 runs on 18 hits, with Graham Sullivan, Jordan Ballard, Erickson Keeton and Alex Haitsuka each driving home two runs.  Haitsuka led the way with his 4 for 5 outing, while Tanner Biagini was 3 for 5 with two runs scored.  Sullivan wrapped up the heavy hitters, going 2 for 5 with four runs scored and a home run, the only extra base hit of the night for the visitors.

"Our guys did a nice job of coming back after being down," said Ikenberry.  "I was really pleased with the way Tanner Biagini swung the bat today.  We manufactured runs, stole bases and played the kind of offense that we want to play.  Alex (Haitsuka) had a great day at the plate too.  All the way up and down the lineup, I thought our kids had nice at bats.  I was really pleased with our focus tonight after playing a really emotional game last night.  Our guys came out two games in a row and took it to them, and I was happy to see that."

The Bulldogs used six pitchers on the evening, as starter Austin Pritcher (0-1) took the loss in his first collegiate start.  Pritcher allowed just one base runner in the first three innings, but saw VMI send 10 men to the plate in the fourth, taking a 4-1 advantage.

Nick Orvin led off the bottom of the first by reaching second base on a throwing error, then scored on a sacrifice fly from cleanup hitter Bryan Altman.  That was all of the scoring until VMI broke out in the fourth, as VMI had five hits and three walks against Pritcher before a 25-minute rain delay with two outs and the bases loaded.  Reliever Chris Boyce then came on and retired Cory Spangenberg to end the inning.

Cowgill returned to the mound after perhaps a 50-minute break between VMI's rally and the delay, and picked up where he left off.  He retired the side in order for the second straight inning in the fourth, putting VMI right back up to bat, where they tacked on two more runs, coming on groundouts from Ballard and Keeton.  Cowgill then stranded a runner in the fifth with a 6-1 lead and saw his offense extend that advantage with a five-run sixth, with the big blows coming on RBI singles from Sullivan and Ballard and Haitsuka's two-run knock into left field.

Cowgill, meanwhile, recorded five of his final eight outs via strikeout, including four straight in the seventh and eighth innings.  The Keydets tacked on their final run on Sullivan's ninth-inning blast, a solo shot that cleared the left-center field wall for his third home run of the year.

The Keydets open Big South Conference play Friday, visiting High Point in the first of a three-game set at Willard Stadium.  Fans can listen to each game of the weekend series online at www.VMIKeydets.com or watch the contest on the Big South Network at www.BigSouthSports.com.  The games on Friday and Saturday are set for a 6 p.m. first pitch, while Sunday's contest will be a 1 p.m. start.

Keydet Quick Hits

• With its two wins this week over The Citadel and a win in its previous meeting in the 2003 SoCon Tournament, VMI has won three straight over the Bulldogs for the first time since a weekend sweep in Lexington in 1989.
• Wednesday evening's game was the 100th all-time meeting between The Citadel and VMI.
• VMI has now had a home run in 15 of its 17 games while posting a double-digit hit total in 14 of its 17 outings.
• Cory Spangenberg extended his hitting streak to 13 games in the win.