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Five-run ninth lifts VCU past VMI

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vmiA five-run ninth inning broke a 6-6 tie and sent the VCU Rams past the VMI Keydets, 11-7, Tuesday evening at Gray-Minor Stadium in Lexington, Va.

VMI’s (10-8) Matt Pita had tied the score in the bottom of the eighth with a solo home run, but James Bunn led off the ninth with a single off the leg of Taylor Edens. Matt Davis walked after a close 2-2 pitch, and Darian Carpenter followed with a high fly ball to left that Pita appeared to lose in the lights and misplay for a double, scoring a run.

One batter later, Josh Worthley relieved and induced a 3-2-3 double play, but the next two hitters walked to force in another run. Walker Haymaker then followed with a two-run double to break the game open, and a wild pitch added a final run. The Keydets scored one run in the ninth to account for the final margin.

On the mound, Edens took the hard-luck loss as he fell to 0-2 on the year. He was charged with three runs in one inning of work. Matt Jamer (1-1) allowed two runs on four hits in three innings, and picked up his first win of the season.

The Keydets jumped ahead in the third, when VCU starter Benjamin Dum hit two batters and walked another to load the bases. Peyton Maddox followed with a grand slam to left field, his seventh home run of the year, to put the Keydets up 4-0. Maddox pulled within two of the national home run lead with the long ball.

The teams traded runs in the fourth, making it a 5-1 contest, but the Rams (10-5) proceeded to score the game’s next five runs. A two-run single by Cody Acker in the seventh gave VCU its first lead of the game, 6-5, in the seventh.

Pita then homered with one out in the eighth to tie the score, 6-6, and set the stage for the ninth inning.

Pita led the way for VMI offensively, going 2 for 3 with his sixth home run of the year. Three VCU players had two hits to lead the visitors.

VMI baseball will return to action Wednesday, when the Keydets play host to George Mason at 6 p.m.

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