CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Will Malbon singled home the tying and go-ahead runs in the top of the seventh inning, had a crucial outfield assist in the bottom half and the VMI Keydets held on to defeat the #12 Virginia Cavaliers, 7-6, in non-conference baseball action Wednesday in Charlottesville, Va. The win marked the first time VMI had beaten UVA in back to back games since the Keydets downed the Cavaliers in both 1958 and 1960.
With the Keydets (7-15) down 6-5 entering the seventh, Will Connerley was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Jacob Jaye followed with a single and a sacrifice bunt moved up both runners. Malbon, who entered the contest just 3 for his last 23, singled to center to score both runners and give VMI the lead for good.
The drama was not complete, however, as Virginia (19-9) threatened in the bottom half of the inning. Robbie Coman led off with a walk and Ernie Clement had a bunt single. Kevin Doherty followed with a fly out to center field, and Coman, who was trying to advance to third on the play, was gunned down by Malbon for the second out.
That would not be the home team's last threat, as the Cavaliers put the tying and winning runs in scoring position with one out in the ninth against Taylor Edens. The right-hander struck out Coman, however, and after hitting Clement to load the bases, induced Doherty to fly out to center field to end the game.
Edens picked up his second straight save over UVA, and his fourth this season, by firing 2 1/3 scoreless innings to close out the game. The winning pitcher was Kyle Staats (1-1), the fourth of six Keydet hurlers, who allowed one hit in 2/3 of an inning, and Riley Cummins (0-1) took the loss for the home team as both batters he faced in the seventh inning scored.
As mentioned, the win marks the first time since 1958-1960 that the Keydets have won back to back games over Virginia. It also marks just the sixth multi-game win streak for VMI in a series that dates back to 1889.
UVA took the early lead on a Daniel Pinero home run off Matthew Eagle in the first, but VMI countered in the second inning against right-hander Jack Roberts.
Tyler Tharp and Matt Winn started that frame with back to back walks, and Connerley followed with a single to load the bases. Alec Bettinger relieved Roberts, but Jaye drove in a run with an infield out and one out later, Connerley scored on a wild pitch to give the Keydets a 2-1 lead.
The Cavaliers went back in front with single runs in the third and fourth, but VMI took the lead once again with a three-spot in the fifth.
Malbon led off with a single and David Geary followed with a walk. Malbon was thrown out at third trying to advance on a ball in the dirt for the first out, but Jordan Tarsovich followed with his second home run in as many days to make it 4-3, Keydets. A Connerley sacrifice fly later in the inning made it a 5-3 contest.
Virginia answered with two runs in the fifth, both scoring on a double by left fielder Pavin Smith, to tie the game at five. A RBI single by Matt Thaiss in the bottom of the sixth gave UVA a 6-5 lead, and set the stage for Malbon's go-ahead hit and the late game dramatics.
Neither starter figured in the decision, as both Eagle and Roberts were gone before recording an out in the third inning in a game that was pitched out of the bullpens. Offensively, the Keydets were led by two-hit games from Connerley and Malbon, while Virginia third baseman Kenny Towns went 3 for 4 to lead the home team.
VMI baseball will return to action Friday, as the Keydets resume Southern Conference play in Greenville, S.C. against the Furman Paladins. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
