Friday, April 3
Lexington, Va.
6:00 PM
Liberty University
19-8, 7-2
6
at
13
VMI
12-15, 6-3
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LIBERTY | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 15 | 2 |
| VMI | 2 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | X | 13 | 16 | 0 |
Liberty Falls at VMI
4/3/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
The VMI Keydets ran out to an early lead and never looked back, downing the Liberty Flames, 13-6, Friday night in Big South baseball action at Gray/Minor Stadium.
Liberty falls to 7-2 in Big South Conference play and 19-8 overall. VMI moves to 6-3 in conference action and 12-15 overall.
Liberty opened the game by quickly jumping onto the scoreboard in the top of the first inning. Shortstop Matt Williams (Fr., Franklin, Tenn.) led off the game with a triple into the right-center field gap and scored the first run of the contest on an infield single by Curran Redal (Jr., Moses Lake, Wash.).
VMI countered with two runs in the home half of the first inning. Second baseman A.J. Yoder reached on an infield single to open the Keydet first. After two outs were recorded, right fielder Sam Roberts drew a base on balls. First baseman Jordan Ballard followed with a double to the left-center field gap, plating both runners for a 2-1 VMI advantage.
The Keydets added to their lead with four runs in the second frame. Left fielder Brian Sandridge walked to lead off the inning and scored on a triple into the right-center gap by catcher Alex Haitsuka. The next batter, shortstop Steele Myers, then lifted a sacrifice fly to center to bring home Haitsuka, giving VMI a 4-1 lead. Yoder followed with a double and scored ahead of a home run by third baseman Tanner Biagini. The round tripper was the Keydet third baseman's fourth of the year, upping the VMI advantage to 6-1.
In the fourth, the Keydets extended their lead. VMI began the inning with three straight hits, chasing home two runs. After back-to-back singles by Biagini and Roberts, Ballard doubled for an 8-1 edge. Later in the frame, Haitsuka connected for a three-run home run for an 11-1 Keydet advantage.
Liberty cut into its host's advantage with two runs in the fifth inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Williams dropped a single into center field, pushing across designated hitter Cody Brown (Sr., Cumming, Ga.) for the first run of the frame. Redal followed with an infield single, scoring first baseman Trey Wimmer (Fr., Greenwood, S.C.), who had reached on a single of his own, to make it, 11-3 VMI.
The Flames added two more runs in the sixth inning, slicing the Keydet lead to 11-5. With one out, left fielder Joseph Feeley (So, Chesapeake City, Md.) walked and moved to third base on a single by Brown. Wimmer then plated Feeley with a sacrifice fly. Second baseman P.J. Jimenez (Jr., Yucaipa, Calif.) followed with a two-out RBI double into the right-center field gap.
Liberty continued to whittle away at the VMI advantage in the seventh inning. Redal and right fielder Doug Bream (So., Elizabethtown, Pa.) opened the frame with back-to-back singles. Third baseman Tyler Bream (Fr., Zelienople, Pa.) followed by ripping a single through the left side of the infield, chasing home Redal and trimming the Flames' deficit to 11-6.
VMI upped its lead with back-to-back home runs in the eighth inning. Sandridge led off the frame with his third four-base hit of the year. Haitsuka followed with his second home run of the contest and fourth of the season for the final score of 13-6.
Liberty starter Steven Evans (So., LHP, Amherst, Va.) takes his first setback of the season, to drop to 4-1 on the season. The left hander allowed six runs on six hits over two innings.
VMI starter Travis Smink recorded the win, running his record to 4-2 on the year. The Keydet left hander gave up five runs on nine hits over 5 2/3 innings. Reliever Matt Edwards earned his third save of the season, pitching the last 3 1/3 innings. He yielded a run on six hits.
The Flames were paced by Redal, who had four hits in the contest. Yoder, Ballard and Haitsuka each had three hits apiece for the Keydets.
Liberty and VMI square off again tomorrow at Gray/Minor Stadium in the middle game of the three-game series between the two teams. Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m.
Liberty falls to 7-2 in Big South Conference play and 19-8 overall. VMI moves to 6-3 in conference action and 12-15 overall.
Liberty opened the game by quickly jumping onto the scoreboard in the top of the first inning. Shortstop Matt Williams (Fr., Franklin, Tenn.) led off the game with a triple into the right-center field gap and scored the first run of the contest on an infield single by Curran Redal (Jr., Moses Lake, Wash.).
VMI countered with two runs in the home half of the first inning. Second baseman A.J. Yoder reached on an infield single to open the Keydet first. After two outs were recorded, right fielder Sam Roberts drew a base on balls. First baseman Jordan Ballard followed with a double to the left-center field gap, plating both runners for a 2-1 VMI advantage.
The Keydets added to their lead with four runs in the second frame. Left fielder Brian Sandridge walked to lead off the inning and scored on a triple into the right-center gap by catcher Alex Haitsuka. The next batter, shortstop Steele Myers, then lifted a sacrifice fly to center to bring home Haitsuka, giving VMI a 4-1 lead. Yoder followed with a double and scored ahead of a home run by third baseman Tanner Biagini. The round tripper was the Keydet third baseman's fourth of the year, upping the VMI advantage to 6-1.
In the fourth, the Keydets extended their lead. VMI began the inning with three straight hits, chasing home two runs. After back-to-back singles by Biagini and Roberts, Ballard doubled for an 8-1 edge. Later in the frame, Haitsuka connected for a three-run home run for an 11-1 Keydet advantage.
Liberty cut into its host's advantage with two runs in the fifth inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Williams dropped a single into center field, pushing across designated hitter Cody Brown (Sr., Cumming, Ga.) for the first run of the frame. Redal followed with an infield single, scoring first baseman Trey Wimmer (Fr., Greenwood, S.C.), who had reached on a single of his own, to make it, 11-3 VMI.
The Flames added two more runs in the sixth inning, slicing the Keydet lead to 11-5. With one out, left fielder Joseph Feeley (So, Chesapeake City, Md.) walked and moved to third base on a single by Brown. Wimmer then plated Feeley with a sacrifice fly. Second baseman P.J. Jimenez (Jr., Yucaipa, Calif.) followed with a two-out RBI double into the right-center field gap.
Liberty continued to whittle away at the VMI advantage in the seventh inning. Redal and right fielder Doug Bream (So., Elizabethtown, Pa.) opened the frame with back-to-back singles. Third baseman Tyler Bream (Fr., Zelienople, Pa.) followed by ripping a single through the left side of the infield, chasing home Redal and trimming the Flames' deficit to 11-6.
VMI upped its lead with back-to-back home runs in the eighth inning. Sandridge led off the frame with his third four-base hit of the year. Haitsuka followed with his second home run of the contest and fourth of the season for the final score of 13-6.
Liberty starter Steven Evans (So., LHP, Amherst, Va.) takes his first setback of the season, to drop to 4-1 on the season. The left hander allowed six runs on six hits over two innings.
VMI starter Travis Smink recorded the win, running his record to 4-2 on the year. The Keydet left hander gave up five runs on nine hits over 5 2/3 innings. Reliever Matt Edwards earned his third save of the season, pitching the last 3 1/3 innings. He yielded a run on six hits.
The Flames were paced by Redal, who had four hits in the contest. Yoder, Ballard and Haitsuka each had three hits apiece for the Keydets.
Liberty and VMI square off again tomorrow at Gray/Minor Stadium in the middle game of the three-game series between the two teams. Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: SMINK, Travis (4-2)
L: Evans, Steven (4-1)
S: EDWARDS, Matt (3)
Batting:
2B: Jimenez, P.J. 1
3B: Williams, Matt 1
RBI: Williams, Matt 1 ; Redal, Curran 2 ; Bream, Tyler 1 ; Wimmer, Trey 1 ; Jimenez, P.J. 1
SF: Wimmer, Trey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Williams, Matt 1 ; Redal, Curran 1 ; Feeley, Joseph 1 ; Brown, Cody 2 ; Wimmer, Trey 1
SB: Bream, Doug 1
PO: Feeley, Joseph 1
Batting:
2B: YODER, A.J. 1 ; BALLARD, Jordan 3
3B: HAITSUKA, Alex 1
HR: BIAGINI, Tanner 1 ; SANDRIDGE, Brian 1 ; HAITSUKA, Alex 2
RBI: BIAGINI, Tanner 2 ; BALLARD, Jordan 4 ; SANDRIDGE, Brian 1 ; HAITSUKA, Alex 5 ; MYERS, Steele 1
SH: TOPPING, Justin 1 ; SANDRIDGE, Brian 1 ; HAITSUKA, Alex 1
SF: MYERS, Steele 1
Base Running:
RUNS: YODER, A.J. 2 ; BIAGINI, Tanner 2 ; ROBERTS, Sam 2 ; BALLARD, Jordan 1 ; SANDRIDGE, Brian 3 ; HAITSUKA, Alex 3
SB: ROBERTS, Sam 1
HBP: ROBERTS, Sam 1
Game Leaders
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AB
5
R
1
H
4
RBI
2
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AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
.jpg&width=100&height=100&type=webp)
AB
5
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
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AB
5
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
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