VMI baseball opens with 3-1 win over North Florida

Jordan Tarsovich homered as the second batter of the game, Andrew Woods pitched seven strong innings and the bullpen retired six of the seven batters it faced to close out the game as the VMI Keydets defeated the North Florida Ospreys, 3-1, Friday night in Jacksonville, Fla. The game was the season opener for both clubs.

Tarsovich put the Keydets up early, homering to left field as the second batter faced by UNF starter Tyler Moore (0-1). He then gave the Keydets the lead for good with a fifth-inning single, and freshman Matt Dunlevy had a pinch-hit sacrifice fly to provide a ninth-inning insurance run. That was all the runs VMI’s pitching would need, as Woods scattered six hits over seven innings and Jonathan Kelley and Taylor Edens allowed just one combined baserunner in the final two frames to close out the season-opening victory.

Woods (1-0) picked up the win for the Keydets, allowing just one run on six hits and two walks over seven innings. He struck out four batters, as did his counterpart Moore, who gave up two runs on five hits over six frames and was charged with the loss. Edens picked up the save by pitching a scoreless ninth inning.

With the victory, the Keydets gave head coach Jonathan Hadra his first collegiate win in his first game as a head coach. Hadra is the first VMI coach to beat a Division I team in his debut since 1974, when Donny White beat Davidson in his first stint at the helm of the Keydets.

After Tarsovich’s home run gave the Keydets the early lead, UNF tied it up in the second. Keith Skinner led off with a walk, and Trent Higginbothem and Corbin Olmstead followed with back to back singles to load the bases with no outs. Woods induced a 6-4-3 double play off the bat of Nick Karmeris, however, and wound up giving up just one run in the inning.

VMI took the lead for good in the fifth. With one out, Will Malbon – who was making his first career start in the leadoff spot – tripled to right center. Tarsovich then drove him home with an infield out, giving the Keydets a 2-1 lead.

The home team nearly rallied in the sixth. Ryan Roberson led off with an infield single, and Skinner reached on an error. The next batter, Higginbothem, attempted a sacrifice bunt, but Woods was able to throw Roberson out at third base on the play. Olmstead then struck out and, after a wild pitch, Karmeris grounded out to end the inning and preserve VMI’s 2-1 lead.

The Keydets then added on in the ninth. David Geary tripled with one out off reliever Tyler DuPont, prompting both a pinch-hitter and a pitching change. Freshman Matt Dunlevy lofted a sacrifice fly to center off reliever Matthew Naylor, scoring Geary to make it 3-1, Keydets, and that margin stood up as Edens allowed only a single in the ninth.

Offensively, the Keydets saw Tarsovich lead the way with a 2 for 4, two RBI night, while Roberson and Higginbothem collected two hits apiece for UNF.

VMI baseball looks to clinch a season-opening series win for the first time since 2010 on Saturday, when the Keydets return to action against North Florida. Game time in Jacksonville is set for 1 p.m.