CLINTON, S.C. - Justin Hess had three RBI and Coby Cowgill allowed just one earned run over six innings, propelling the VMI Keydets past the Presbyterian College Blue Hose, 5-2, in Big South baseball action Friday afternoon in Clinton, S.C.
VMI (12-10-1, 2-2 Big South) got on the board in the second inning, as Rob Dickinson had an RBI double and Hess had an infield single to drive in a second run. That lead was one that the Keydets would not relinquish, and Hess drove in a fourth inning run on a groundout as well as VMI's final run on an eighth-inning RBI hit.
Cowgill (2-0) went six strong innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits. He struck out six and walked four, as Cowgill posted his fourth straight start with one earned run allowed or fewer. Sam Roberts retired the final five hitters for his third straight save. PC (14-8, 2-2) starter Buck Mosteller (3-1) lasted seven innings, but was undone by his defense committing three errors behind him, leading to his first loss of the season.
The Keydets scored first, notching two runs in the second inning. Alex Haitsuka was hit by a pitch, and Jacob Morley bunted him to second. Dickinson roped a double to right center, scoring Haitsuka, and one out later, Dickinson went to third on a wild pitch. Hess then drove in a run with an infield hit, giving VMI a 2-0 lead.
Presbyterian responded with a run in the second, when Brad Zebedis was hit by a pitch. He moved to second on a ground ball, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a passed ball, cutting the Keydet lead to 2-1.
VMI pushed the margin to 4-1 with a run in both the fourth and fifth innings. Chase Worthington had a single with one out, and on the play, the Blue Hose committed an error. Worthington took two bases on the play, and then scored when the next hitter, Hess, grounded out to short.
In the fifth, George Piccirilli and Alex Haitsuka had back-to-back singles with one out. After a ground out, Dickinson hit a ground ball to second baseman John Wagner. Wagner bobbled the ball, allowing Piccirilli to score and giving the Keydets the three-run lead, 4-1.
PC responded with a Mack Hite sacrifice fly in the fifth, but VMI scored the game's final run in the eighth. Justin Topping led off the inning with a single, and Jordan Tarsovich ran for him. Worthington lined to third and Blue Hose third baseman Tyler Hill tried to throw behind the runner. The throw was wild, allowing Tarsovich to take third and score on a Hess RBI single, accounting for the final margin.
Roberts then closed out the game, retiring the final five hitters without incident for his third save of the season and sixth of his career, tying Richard Sparks and Ryan Glynn for ninth-most in program history.
Offensively, the Keydets were paced by Hess' 2 for 4, three RBI effort, while Roberts and Piccirilli also had two hits apiece. Nate Horton was 3 for 3 for Presbyterian College.
VMI is scheduled to return to action Saturday, as the Keydets and Blue Hose play game two of their three game set. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.
VMI vs Presbyterian College (March 25, 2011 at Clinton, S.C.)
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VMI . 020 110 010 - 5 11 1 (12-10-1, 2-2)
PC 010 010 000 - 2 8 3 (14-8, 2-2)
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VMI - Cowgill; Thomas (7); Roberts (8) and Haitsuka.
PC - Mostleller; Scruggs (8); Knox (8); Horton and Zebedis.
W- Cowgill (2-0) S- Roberts (3) L-Mostleller (3-1) T- 2:40 A- 92
