A pair of two-run singles gave the VMI Keydets the early lead and Brandon Barbery took it from there, carrying a shutout into the ninth inning as the Keydets downed the VCU Rams, 4-1, in baseball action Wednesday at The Diamond in Richmond.
Barbery and VCU starter Jack Alkire matched zeros for the first three innings, but the Rams (21-12) went to the pen to start the fourth on a staff day. Collin Fleischer and Will Malbon greeted Braxton Wilks with one-out singles, and Noah Cook was hit by a pitch. Nathan Eaton followed with a two-run single and one batter later, Jacob Jaye plated two with a single of his own.
That was all Barbery would need, as he fired perhaps the best game of his collegiate career. He scattered six hits and allowed only one runner to reach second base before the ninth inning. Barbery struck out three and walked one in the 112-pitch gem, which equaled his career-high in innings pitched. He moved to 2-2 with the win, while Matt Eagle closed out the game – allowing just an inherited runner to score – for his fifth save.
Wilks (3-1) was charged with all four runs and took the loss.
Offensively, Fleischer had VMI’s (15-17) lone two-hit game, while Matt Pita reached base in all five of his plate appearances. Hogan Brown and Steven Carpenter combined for four of VCU’s six hits.
VMI baseball will return to action Friday, when the Keydets play host to Western Carolina at Gray-Minor Stadium. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
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