SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The Wofford Terriers scored the game's last six runs, including the go-ahead tally on a wild throw that hit a runner attempting to steal, and went on to defeat the VMI Keydets, 8-7, in Southern Conference baseball action Saturday in Spartanburg, S.C.
VMI (4-10, 0-2 SoCon) jumped out to leads of 5-0 and 7-2, but Wofford (20-5, 2-0) scored once in the fifth, twice in the sixth and twice more in the seventh to tie the game, 7-7. Matt Pelt drew a two-out walk in the eighth against reliever Matt Eagle (0-1). Pelt then stole second and was hit by Matt Winn's throw, which was wide to the first base side.
Pelt's momentum helped propel the ball into shallow left-center field, and the Wofford outfielder immediately sprinted toward third and was waved home. He would score easily, and although the Keydets got the tying run aboard in the ninth, Tyler Tharp grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the game.
Eagle took the tough-luck loss despite allowing just one baserunner in his 1 1/3 innings of work, while Jacob Condra-Bogan moved to 1-1 by pitching a hitless top half of the eighth.
VMI jumped ahead resoundingly in the first inning, when David Geary led off with a single and Jordan Tarsovich followed with one of his own. One out later, Matt Dunlevy beat out a slow infield roller to load the bases, and after a strikeout, Thomas Stallings blasted a 3-1 pitch into the trees beyond left-center field for a grand slam to put the Keydets up, 4-0. It was the first grand slam by a VMI player since March 19, 2013, nearly two years ago to the day.
The Keydet lead grew to five in the second, when Will Connerley led off with a double and Jacob Jaye, while attempting to move Connerley to third, reached on a bunt. Geary then walked and Tarsovich lofted a sacrifice fly to center field, making it a 5-0 game, but Wofford starter Luke Leftwich limited the damage by allowing just that single run. That would prove to be pivotal later on.
Wofford got on the board in the third, when Conor Clancey walked to force in a run and Max McDougald plated a run via a strange play. With one out in the inning and the bases loaded, McDougald hit a hard ground ball to third base that was speared by Stallings. Stallings threw to Tarsovich at second base, but the throw was to the left field side and third base umpire Randy Dulin ruled that Tarsovich was off the bag. The relay to first was in time to beat McDougald, but the poor throw allowed the Terriers to score their second run and pull within 5-2.
The Keydets pushed the lead back to five in the fifth, when Tyler Tharp led off with a walk and, after a fielder's choice, Dunlevy stole second to put a runner in scoring position. Winn followed with a line drive home run to left field, his second of the series and fourth of the year, to make it a 7-2 contest. Those would be VMI's final runs of the game.
Wofford, meanwhile, got a run back in the fifth on James Plaisted's home run and plated two more in the sixth to pull within 7-5. McDougald then singled with one out in the seventh off Keydet reliever Jack Gomersall. Pinch-hitter Carson Waln then doubled down the left field line and the ball was misplayed by Dunlevy, allowing Waln to reach third as McDougald scored. One out later, Derek Hirsch singled to score Waln and tie the game, 7-7.
The Keydets threatened in the eighth, as Stallings was hit by a pitch to open the frame. Will Malbon bunted him over, but Condra-Bogan struck out Connerley and retired Jaye on a comebacker to set the stage for Pelt's baserunning heroics in the bottom half of the frame.
Neither starter figured in the decision, as Leftwich was charged with seven runs, all earned, in five innings. He walked three and struck out seven. Austin Heenan gave up three runs in five innings for the Keydets, striking out six and walking three.
Offensively, the Keydets saw Dunlevy, Geary and Tarsovich post two hits apiece to lead their offense, while Hirsch was 3 for 4 to pace the home team.
VMI baseball wraps up its series with Wofford Sunday, as the teams conclude the three-game set at noon. The contest was moved up an hour due to possible rain in the area.
