LEXINGTON, Va. - VMI Baseball made it 10 in a row Sunday, claiming its third weekend sweep of the season with an 8-4 victory over Maryland Eastern Shore in non-conference action at Gray-Minor Stadium. The Keydets' 10-0 opening to the season is not only its best-ever start, but also marks the team's longest win streak in at least 60 years. The Hawks fall to 0-11 with the loss.
Sam Roberts (2-0) allowed just one hit in seven innings, being charged with two runs, one earned. The junior struck out six batters while walking just one, however, he hit three batters in the longest outing of his career. Alan Watts came on to work a quick eighth inning, but surrendered two runs in the ninth before Andrew Deal came on to record the final out via a pickoff at first base, notching his first career save while throwing just two pitches.
"Sam did a good job pitching today," said VMI head coach Marlin Ikenberry. "We gave up a run early, and we responded right away in the first. I was proud of the way our offense produced through six innings to take a good lead. Steele Myers had a great day at the plate and at shortstop, and Alex Haitsuka had a couple of great at bats. The bottom of our lineup produced and allowed us to take the lead early. Again, I can't speak highly enough of our young players, and the way they compete day-in day-out."
John DesChamps (0-3) worked six innings for the Hawks, allowing eight runs on nine hits, striking out three. Matt Witte threw the final two innings, retiring all six batters he faced, including one via strikeout.
Hawk leadoff hitter Phil Vaughn opened the game with a double down the right-field line, then scored on a wild pitch later in the inning to take a 1-0 lead. The Keydets answered immediately, as Jacob Morley's two-out single plated both Tanner Biagini and Graham Sullivan.
VMI tacked on another in the second, as Steele Myers kept his strong weekend going with an RBI single up the middle, plating Ombri Rivers to put the Keydets up 3-1. DesChamps settled in to retire the next seven batters, while the Hawks cut the margin to 3-2 in the fifth inning on an unearned tally scored by Luis Mena.
The Keydets responded in the bottom of the inning, piecing together a three-run rally while sending eight men to the plate. Alex Haitsuka broke DesChamps' run with a leadoff double, then scored on Myers' triple just three pitches later. Cory Spangenberg's single into right field then scored Myers, while a sacrifice fly from Sullivan capped the inning's scoring, making it a 6-2 contest. The hosts scored two more in the sixth, coming on Haitsuka's base knock to score Rivers, and a Spangenberg fielder's choice that plated Haitsuka.
The Hawks mounted their biggest rally in the ninth, as Elliott Alston led things off with an infield single, before Bryan Chaikowsky single into right field. Mena followed with a base knock up the middle to cut the lead to 8-3, before a passed ball plated Chaikowsky, cutting the margin to 8-4. Watts then retired the next two batters on a strikeout and a passed ball before hitting Tre-von Johnson, spelling the end of his day. Deal then came on with the tying run in the on-deck circle, and after delivering two pitches, picked off Johnson at first base to end the rally and the game.
Spangenberg, Morley and Myers each drove in two runs for the Keydets, with Myers (2 for 3) and Haitsuka (2 for 4) accounting for VMI's only multiple-hit outings. Mena had UMES' only RBI of the game and was one of four Hawks with a hit in the contest.
The Keydets play a single game Monday, taking on Bryant at Gray-Minor Stadium, with first pitch set for 4 p.m. against the Bulldogs.
Keydet Quick Hits
- Between Saturday's and Sunday's contest, sophomore Steele Myers had a double, a home run, a single and a triple in four consecutive at bats.
- Roberts' seven-inning performance was not only the longest of his career, but was the longest by a starting pitcher this season.
- VMI's starting rotation this weekend was 3-0 with a 0.47 ERA, striking out 26 and walking just one in 19 innings.
