Wofford tops VMI, 9-7

Brett Hash went 4 for 5 with two home runs and seven RBI, helping the Wofford Terriers past the VMI Keydets, 10-7, in the middle game of a three-game SoCon series contested Saturday at Gray-Minor Stadium in Lexington.

Hash homered in both the fourth and seventh innings and added a crucial two-run double in the ninth for the Terriers (23-18, 7-7 SoCon), who clinched a series win with the victory. The offensive outburst made a winner of reliever Elliot Lance, who moved to 5-0 by allowing two runs over 2 2/3 innings. Will Stillman allowed two baserunners in the ninth, bringing the tying run to the plate, but completed the frame for his ninth save and second in as many days.

Josh Winder (3-4) allowed six runs in five innings and took the loss for the Keydets (18-25, 2-12).

Offensively, in addition to Hash, Kody Ruedisili added three hits for Wofford. Geary and Eaton had three hits apiece for the Keydets.

The Keydets took the early lead on a two-run single by Matt Pita in the first inning. Wofford cut the lead in half on a RBI double by Alec Paradowski in the third, making it a 2-1 game, and the Terriers tied it on Hash’s first home run in the fourth.

A two-out rally in the fourth gave VMI the lead once again. With two outs, Will Malbon struck out but reached when the third strike was a wild pitch. Nathan Eaton and David Geary followed with back to back doubles, giving the Keydets a 4-2 lead.

Wofford took the lead for good in the fifth inning. A two-run single for Hash was the key blow, but Paradowski chipped in a RBI double and Derek Hirsch added a RBI single as the Terriers went up, 6-4.

A Peyton Maddox sacrifice fly in the bottom of the frame cut the lead to one, 6-5, and it remained that way until the seventh. Paradowski led off the top of the inning with a single, and two outs later, Hash homered to left center for an 8-5 Wofford lead.

The Keydets cut the lead to two, 8-6, on a Tyler Tharp RBI double in the bottom of the frame, and a Geary home run in the eighth cut the lead to one. That was as close as the Keydets would get, however, as Wofford tacked on two runs in the ninth on a Hash two-run double to make it 10-7.

VMI threatened in the ninth against ace closer Stillman, as Maddox walked and Tharp singled, but Matt Dunlevy struck out looking as the tying run to end the game.

Offensively, in addition to Hash, Kody Ruedisili added three hits for Wofford. Geary and Eaton had three hits apiece for the Keydets.

VMI baseball will return to action Sunday, when the Keydets and Wofford wrap up their series at 1 p.m.