Connor Bach handcuffed the North Division-leading Campbell Camels for 8 2/3 innings, but the VMI Keydets went 0 for 10 with runners in scoring position and CU’s Blake Boyce had a walk-off RBI double in the bottom of the ninth, giving Campbell a 2-1 win over VMI Friday in Buies Creek, N.C. The game was the opener of a Big South three-game series and marked VMI’s second straight walk-off setback.
With one out in the ninth, Campbell’s (33-8, 12-4 Big South) David Olson singled. Colby Fox pinch-ran at first, and Michael DeLucia flew out. The next batter was Boyce, who laced a shot up the left-center field alley. VMI’s (18-23, 5-8 BSC) Jordan Tarsovich retrieved the ball on the warning track, but the relay throw was not in time to retire Fox, who scored easily to end the game.
Bach (2-3) went the distance for the Keydets, allowing just two runs on six hits. He walked one and struck out two. Ryan Thompson (4-0) got the victory in relief for the Camels, allowing two hits and striking out three in 2 2/3 shutout innings. Ryan Mattes, the CU starter, got no decision after not allowing an earned run in 6 1/3 frames.
The story of the game was the Keydet struggle with runners in scoring position. In three different innings, VMI had at least two at-bats with a runner at either second or third and could not deliver a hit, including going 0 for 3 after a Rob Dickinson leadoff double in the fourth. At the plate, Dickinson led VMI with three hits that raised his average to .411, while Matt Winn went 0 for 4 to end both his 15-game hitting streak and his 24-game run of reaching base consecutively.
The Keydets had the game’s first major threat in the fourth, when Dickinson led off with an opposite field double. Mattes struck out Winn, however, and induced a fly out from Red Dowdell. A wild pitch sent Dickinson to third, but Connerley struck out to end the inning.
CU took the lead in the fifth. Boyce led off with a walk, and after a sacrifice bunt, John Reilly bounced out to Bach. The Keydet pitcher looked toward third, but went to first to retire Reilly and Boyce moved to third. Ben McQuown walked and Brent Graham followed with a bunt single down the third base line, scoring Boyce to give the Camels a 1-0 lead.
The Keydets tied it in the fifth, after Connerley led off with a single. Brandon Angus grounded into a fielder’s choice, but promptly stole second and went to third on a throwing error by DeLucia. Ray Lopez walked and Drew Bryan drove Angus home with an infield out, tying the game, 1-1.
VMI put two on with two out in the eighth, but could not score. Meanwhile, Bach settled in and pitched three straight 1-2-3 innings, capped by retiring the side in order in the eighth. Elijah Trail flew out to open the ninth, marking the 11th consecutive hitter Bach had retired, but Olson’s single ended that run and set up CU’s game-winning rally.
“It is tough to be left on the field two nights in a row,” said VMI head coach Marlin Ikenberry. “Connor threw the ball very well today, and we did a good job to get to their closer in the seventh. We must, however, do a better job with runners in scoring position. That is something that we have struggled with in the past week, but we are playing quality games otherwise and continue to work hard.”
VMI baseball will return to action Saturday, when the Keydets and Campbell face off in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
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