VMI baseball shocks Kentucky in ninth, 10-9

Cameron Walter laced a single up the middle with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning, scoring two runs to give the VMI Keydets a 10-9, walk-off victory over the Kentucky Wildcats, 10-9, in non-conference baseball action Sunday at Brooks Field in Wilmington, N.C.

The game was VMI’s (1-2) final game at the Hughes Bros. Challenge, hosted by UNC Wilmington.

After UK (2-1) had averted a VMI rally with two runs in the ninth to take a 9-8 lead, Red Dowdell reached on an error with one out in the VMI half. Will Malbon pinch-ran and Brandon Angus beat out an infield single. Will Connerley then hit a slow roller to third base that was booted by third baseman Max Kuhn for the second Wildcat error of the inning, loading the bases. Walter then fell behind 0-2 before taking a ball. The redshirt junior then laced a 1-2 fastball up the middle, scoring Malbon and Angus to set off the celebration. Walter now has VMI’s last two walk-off hits.

Travis Thomas (1-0) picked up the win in relief in his first outing since April of 2012, doing so despite surrendering two runs in the ninth inning, while Zach Strecker (0-1) retired just one batter for UK in the bottom half in taking the loss. The victory was VMI baseball’s first over an SEC school since beating Auburn on March 13, 2007.

Kentucky had won 89 straight games when leading going to the bottom of the ninth.