Geary and Connerley back Woods in 8-2 VMI baseball win

Home runs from Will Connerley and David Geary backed a complete game from Andrew Woods as the VMI Keydets defeated the UNCG Spartans, 8-2, in the middle game of a Southern Conference series Saturday night in Lexington, Va. The Keydets (17-26, 10-10) also stole seven bases in the game, the team’s most since it also stole seven March 7, 2009 against Rider.

The Keydets led wire to wire Saturday night after Geary sent a 2-2 pitch from Andrew Wantz over the scoreboard in left center field for a two-run shot in the first inning. UNCG (21-24, 11-12) closed to within 3-2 after a Collin Woody home run in the fourth, but Connerley launched a home run to the top of the hill in left field in the fourth, starting VMI scoring the game’s final five runs en route to the win.

Woods’ (6-1) complete game saw him give up two runs on seven hits. He struck out nine and walked only one in his first career complete game. Wantz (5-3) gave up five runs on 10 hits in 3 2/3 innings.

After Geary put the Keydets up 2-0 early, VMI added on in the third. Jordan Tarsovich led off with a single and stole second, his 22nd theft of the year, tying him for ninth-most in school history. Geary then followed with a bloop single that bounced off the glove of second baseman Hunter King. Geary was thrown out at second base 4-9-5-6, but Tarsovich advanced to third and scored on a sacrifice fly by Matt Winn to make it 3-0.

Woody hit a two-run homer in the fourth, but Connerley’s home run and a RBI single by Ray Lopez pushed the lead back to three, 5-2, after four.

VMI tacked on another run in the seventh, when Tarsovich singled and moved to second on a bunt. Winn then singled to left and, coming around third, Tarsovich fell down. Left fielder Tyler Long bobbled the ball, however, allowing Tarsovich time to regain his feet and score to make it 6-2, VMI. A two-run single by Winn in the eighth accounted for the final margin.

Offensively, the top five hitters in the Keydet lineup, as well as #7 hitter Tyler Tharp, all had two hits apiece. Connerley’s home run tied him with six others, including Winn, for ninth on the Institute’s all-time single-season listing.

The Keydets return to action Sunday as the series with UNCG wraps up at 2 p.m. Senior Day ceremonies will take place at 1:35 p.m. and will be streamed live on the SoCon Digital Network.