LYNCHBURG, Va. - No. 26 VMI jumped out to a 6-0 advantage through two innings but was shut out the rest of the way, as Liberty struck for nine runs in the middle innings to defeat the Keydets 9-6 Saturday afternoon at Worthington Stadium. The win improves the Flames to 24-10 on the year and 8-3 in the Big South, while the Keydets fall to 29-7 overall and 10-4 in league play.
The Keydets sent 10 men to the plate in the first, chasing Liberty starter Keegan Linza, who entered as one of the nation's leaders with a 7-0 record, after recording just two outs. Justin Topping broke a scoreless tie with a two-run single, followed by run-scoring knocks from Rob Dickinson and Jacob Morley. Linza was lifted for Dane Beakler, who retired Sam Roberts on a groundout to leave the bases loaded in the first.
Another two-run hit from Topping, this time a double down the left-field line, pushed VMI's advantage to 6-0 in the top of the second. Beakler settled in from there, however, blanking VMI for the rest of his 5.1 innings of work.
Keydet starter Jason Farley, meanwhile, escaped trouble in the third inning, when VMI committed three errors but did not surrender a run. Farley averted danger once again in the fourth when the Flames had the bases loaded with no outs, as the left-hander got a double play and a groundout to limit the damage to just a single run.
A two-out home run from Nathan Thompson cut the VMI advantage to 6-2 in the fifth, before the Flames rallied in the sixth. Michael Robertson reached on a leadoff error, followed by a base knock that chased Farley from the game. Chris Duty came on to retire the first batter he faced, but allowed a two-run double to Curran Redal, then back-to-back singles to Doug and Tyler Bream. Alan Watts entered and threw just three pitches, plunking Thompson and running the count to 2-0 to Matt Williams, before being lifted in favor of VMI's closer, Michael Devine.
Brought into a one-run contest with the bases loaded and one out, Devine surrendered a two-run double to Williams, who also gave the Flames the lead the night before on a two-run triple. Robertson followed with a two-run single two batters later, giving the Flames a 9-6 advantage.
Reliever Tim Dudley nearly did the rest, scattering three hits through 2.2 innings, keeping the Keydets off the board. VMI mounted a ninth-inning rally to bring the tying run to the plate, but Dudley retired pinch-hitter George Piccirilli on a first-pitch flyout before Ombri Rivers struck out swinging on a full-count offering from Josh Richardson, who recorded his second save in as many nights.
Beakler (2-2) picked up the win, scattering five hits and two runs in his 5.1 innings. He relieved Linza, who was charged four runs on three hits, three walks and a hit batsman, but wriggled off the hook for his first loss of the year thanks to his offense.
Chris Duty (2-1) took the loss, retiring just one of the four batters he faced, as each of the other three came around to score. Farley allowed four runs, three earned, in his five-plus innings, while Devine worked the final 2.2 innings, officially allowing just an unearned run on four hits.
Redal, Williams and Robertson each had two RBIs for the Flames, while Williams was a team-best 3 for 4 with two runs scored. For VMI, Topping plated four of the six runs, with Dickinson and Morley accounting for the others. Cory Spangenberg was 3 for 4 with two runs scored, and Chase Worthington was 2 for 3 from the ninth-spot in the lineup.
VMI and Liberty conclude their Big South Conference series Sunday afternoon, with first pitch at Worthington Stadium set for 1 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.
