LEXINGTON, Va. – VMI Baseball completed the series sweep over Western Illinois Sunday afternoon at Lamore Field at Gray-Minor Stadium.
Down 7-0 in the sixth inning, the Keydets (14-2) never wavered and rallied late to defeat the Leathernecks, 9-8. VMI has won five-straight games and has now swept three series at home.
Key Stats
- VMI scored all nine runs in the final three innings.
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Cole Cook delivered four clutch RBIs with a double and a triple.
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Cole Raile smashed his third home run of the season.
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Owen Prince went two-for-three with three runs and two RBIs.
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Seth Buchanan tallied a pair of hits and runs.
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Buddy Baker threw the final 1.1 innings and took control, allowing just one hit.
Scoring Summary
- WIU took control early, scoring two in the second, three in the fifth, and two more in the sixth to take a commanding 7-0 lead.
- The Keydets got their first hit of the game in the sixth inning, an RBI double from
Grayson Fitzwater that scored Prince.
- In the seventh inning, VMI cut the deficit to just two after Prince singled in one run, then Cook smoked a double down the leftfield line to clear the bases.
- The Leathernecks hit a solo shot in the eighth inning to make it 8-5.
- The Keydets' eighth inning rally started with an opposite field solo home run from Raile.
JW Kohlmeyer drove in another run on a sacrifice fly, scoring
Ayden Schnarrs and making it a one-run game with two outs. Prince scored the game-tying run, beating out an infield single, then later crossed the plate for the game-winning run after a strategic stolen base followed by a triple by Cook to complete the comeback.
Next up for the Keydets
The Keydets take on Norfolk State on Wednesday in Norfolk, Virginia. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.
For more information, visit VMIKeydets.com or follow us on social media at VMI Athletics.
