LYNCHBURG, Va. - A six-run seventh inning was too much to overcome, as No. 26 VMI fell 12-9 to Liberty in the series opener at Worthington Stadium Friday evening. VMI's first Friday night loss drops the Keydets to 29-6 on the season and 10-3 in the Big South, while the Flames improve to 23-10 and 7-3 in league play with the win.
The Keydets took their first lead on a three-run home run by Alex Haitsuka in the fifth inning, moving in front 4-3. The visitors then tacked on two more in the seventh, thanks to an RBI single from Jacob Morley and a sacrifice fly by Sam Roberts.
The 6-3 advantage didn't hold up long, as Liberty sent 11 men to the plate in the bottom of the seventh. A two-run homer by Trey Wimmer trimmed the margin to 6-5, before an infield single by Jeff Jefferson chased starter Adam Lopez from the game. John Garrett (4-1) entered and allowed a soft-liner into right field to put runners at the corners before inducing a sacrifice fly that tied the game at six. Garrett got a second out two batters later, but with two men on base, Matt Williams connected for a triple into left-center field to put the Flames up for good. A base knock from P.J. Jimenez capped the inning's scoring, plating Williams to put Liberty up, 9-6.
VMI left two stranded in the eighth, as Josh Richardson came in with two outs and retired pinch-hitter Rob Dickinson on a foul pop. Liberty then rallied for three big insurance runs in the home-half, coming on a passed ball, a sacrifice fly and a single from Williams.
The Keydets would not go quietly in the ninth, however, rallying for three runs off of Richardson. Jacob Morley accounted for two of them with his home run down the right-field line, before Cory Spangenberg notched his first hit of the night, an RBI double into right-center field. A visit to the mound by Liberty pitching coach Garrett Quinn settled his freshman reliever, who retired the next three hitters, two via strikeout, to lock up his fourth save of the year.
Liberty starter Shawn Teufel (7-1) won the game despite allowing six runs, just as he did in a win against the Keydets last season. He hurled 7.2 innings, allowing seven hits, striking out six while walking a pair.
Lopez, meanwhile, was charged with six runs himself through six-plus innings, coming on just five hits. The Flames took advantage of mistakes, however, as Lopez also issued three walks, hit two batters and uncorked three wild pitches. Garrett took the loss by allowing six runs, five earned, on seven hits in the final two frames.
Morley and Justin Topping each went 2 for 4 in the contest, with Morley driving in three and connecting for his fourth home run of the season. Haitsuka hit his fifth of the year to score three, while Jordan Ballard became the VMI career leader in home runs with his solo shot in the fourth. It marked the 38th of his career, surpassing the 37 that Greg Weddle had from 1983-86.
Wimmer (2 for 3, HR, 4 RBIs) and Williams (2 for 5, 3B, 3 RBIs) combined to drive in seven of the Flames' run on the evening, while Curran Redal and Jeff Jefferson each had a pair of knocks and scored twice.
VMI and Liberty continue their Big South Conference series Saturday afternoon, with first pitch at Worthington Stadium set for 4 p.m. The game will be broadcast by the VMI Sports Network on Lexington's 3WZ 96.7 FM and online at www.VMIKeydets.com.
Keydet Quick Hits
- VMI has now hit a home run in 30 of its 35 games this season.
- Jordan Ballard's 15 home runs this season are the second-most in school history, just one behind the single-season record set back Greg Weddle in 1985.
- The loss is VMI's first in a series opener this season.
