Augusta Free Press editor Chris Graham will make his ESPN3 debut on Sunday at 1 p.m. as VMI faces The Citadel in the finale of a three-game Southern Conference baseball series.
Graham will join Wade Branner on the call for ESPN3.
Series recap: VMI vs. The Citadel
- Friday night: The Citadel’s JP Sears struck out 19 Keydets in eight innings in a 10-2 win. Sears improved to 4-1 on the season. He gave up a run on three hits, with the 19 strikeouts and two walks in the 117-pitch effort. Mike Deese homered twice for the Bulldogs, and Drew Ellis also went deep. Peyton Maddox hit his eighth homer of the year for VMI.
- Saturday: VMI starter Brandon Barbery improved to 3-2 on the season with eight shutout innings in an 8-3 Keydets win. Barbery gave up three hits, struck out two and didn’t issue a walk. And VMI got some long ball action to back him, with homers from Collin Fleischer, Tyler Tharp and Will Mabon.
Sunday’s starting pitchers
- VMI: RHP Josh Winder Winder, a 6’5”, 205-pound freshman from Richmond, Va., is 3-1 with a 2.95 ERA in five starts, with two complete games. Impressive numbers: 29K/3BB in 33.1IP, allowing 31 hits, a .250 opponent batting average and a 1.31 WHIP. Just nine extra-base hits allowed all season (three homers).
- Citadel: RHP Jacob Watcher Watcher, a 5’9”, 150-pound sophomore from Sumter, S.C., is 3-1 with a 3.15 ERA in seven appearances, three starts. He has struck out 18 and walked 8 in 20 innings, allowing 21 hits, a .273 opponent batting average and 1.50 WHIP.
Players to watch
- Citadel: DH Mike Deese (.311/.388/.514, 3HR/10RBI)
- VMI: 3B David Geary (.354/.449/.608, 2HR/23RBI), LF Matt Pita (.340/.410/.670, 7HR/20RBI), C Peyton Maddox (.326/.431/.663, 8HR/23RBI), 1B Collin Fleischer (.313/.419/.615, 7HR/24RBI)