ROCK HILL, S.C. - After falling behind in the top half of the frame, the Winthrop Eagles scored twice in the bottom of the 10th to earn a 7-6 win over the VMI Keydets in Big South baseball action Saturday afternoon in Rock Hill, S.C.
The Keydets fell behind 3-0 early, but VMI also held leads of 5-3 and 6-5 in the back and forth contest. In the 10th, Chas Crane led off with a bunt hit. One out later, Brett Thomas singled to center, and on that play, Rob Dickinson's throw into the infield was wild, allowing both runners to advance a base. The next batter was intentionally walked, and John Garrett (1-1) was relieved by Michael Devine. A wild pitch tied the game, 6-6, and Devine struck out Matt Pierpont, but Patrick Gamblin hit a bouncing ball through the left side to give Winthrop the win and send VMI to its fourth consecutive setback.
Garrett took the loss for VMI (9-10-1, 0-2 Big South), falling to 1-1 on the year, while Tommy Lawrence (1-1) earned the win for the Eagles (9-8, 2-0 Big South), also coming out of the bullpen. Neither starter figured in the decision, as the Keydets' Jason Farley went 6 1/3 innings, surrendering three earned runs, while Robert Lake of WU went 7 1/3, giving up five earned runs.
Winthrop went ahead early in Saturday's contest, plating two unearned runs in the first inning off Farley. The Eagles then added another run in the second, when Tyler Cook singled to right to make it 3-0, WU.
VMI came right back in the third, as with one out, Justin Topping singled to center. He advanced on a Justin Hess groundout, and scored on a Sam Roberts RBI single to cut the Winthrop margin to 3-1. The next batter, Graham Sullivan, eliminated that lead with a two-run home run over the left field wall, tying the game at 3 with his second homer of the year.
It would stay tied until the fifth, when Justin Hess turned on an inside fastball from Lake and launched it down the left field line for a home run. Hess' solo shot was his first of the year, and it gave the Keydets their first lead of the day, 4-3. VMI added to that lead in the next frame, as Dickinson drove in George Piccirilli with an RBI single, putting the Keydets up 5-3.
Meanwhile, Farley had settled into a groove, retiring 13 of 14 hitters at one point before running into trouble in the seventh. The first two hitters reached, and a sacrifice bunt moved them to second and third. Alan Watts relieved, but an infield hit and a sacrifice fly tied the game, 5-5. Garrett then came out of the bullpen and, after a wild pitch, induced Crane to ground out to end the inning.
VMI had two hits in the ninth, but could not score, and Garrett pitched around an Eagle threat in the bottom half to send the game to extra innings. It marked just the second extra inning contest for VMI this season, with the other having come March 1 versus Richmond.
Alex Haitsuka had a one-out single for VMI in the 10th, and one out later, with the Keydet catcher running, Dickinson drilled a ball deep in the left-center field gap. The RBI double scored Haitsuka easily and gave VMI the lead once again, 6-5. Chase Worthington flied out to end the inning, and set the stage for the eventual Winthrop rally.
Offensively, VMI had five different players with at least two hits, including Sullivan and Hess, who both homered off Winthrop starter Lake. Since starting the year hitting .220 over the first 15 games, second baseman Hess is batting .368 (7 for 19) with six RBI.
Winthrop had four players with multiple hits, including Gamblin, who had the game-winning hit.
VMI and Winthrop will conclude their three-game Big South series Sunday at 1 p.m. in Rock Hill. Following that contest, the Keydets will be back in action Tuesday, taking on Longwood in Farmville, Va. Game time that night is set for 5 p.m.
VMI vs Winthrop (March 19, 2011 at Rock Hill, S.C.)
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VMI . 003 011 000 1 - 6 14 2 (9-10-1)
Winthrop 210 000 200 2 - 7 11 0 (9-8)
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VMI - Farley; Watts (7); Garrett (7); Devine (10) and Haitsuka.
WU - Lake; Knox (8); Lawrence (8) and Rohan.
W- Lawrence (1-1 L- Garrett (1-1) T- 2:42 A- 333
