The UNCG Spartans scored 10 consecutive runs to break the game open in the middle innings and took advantage of 10 walks to defeat the VMI Keydets, 11-6, in the middle game of a three-game SoCon series contested Saturday in Greensboro, N.C.
The Keydets (15-16, 1-4 SoCon) led 5-1 headed to the bottom of the fourth, but UNCG (22-6, 2-0) sent 11 men to the plate in that frame against three VMI hurlers, knocking Keydet starter Brandon Barbery from the game. The key blow was a three-run shot by Michael Goss off Barbery that gave the home team a 6-5 lead, which they would not surrender the rest of the way.
The starters got the decisions, as Bryce Hensley (4-0) was the winning pitcher despite giving up five runs on six hits in five innings. Barbery dropped to 3-3 with the loss, as he gave up six runs on only three hits in 3 1/3 innings. Barbery walked three and four Keydet relievers combined to issue seven walks in the remainder of the game.
For the second straight day, VMI jumped ahead in the first inning. David Geary walked with one out and one out later, was running on a 1-1 pitch to Peyton Maddox. Maddox blooped a single to shallow right between three fielders and Geary, who never stopped running, scored easily to give VMI a 1-0 lead.
UNCG tied it in the second on a RBI groundout, but the Keydets put a four-spot on the board in the third. A two-run triple by Geary was the first blow, his fifth three-bagger of the year. That is tied for the second-most triples in a single season in VMI history. Collin Fleischer added a RBI groundout and Tyler Tharp capped the uprising with a solo home run, his seventh of the season, to make it 5-1, Keydets.
UNCG answered with a six-run uprising in the fourth, however, and took the lead for good. A two-run home run by Dillon Stewart, his second of the series, made it 9-5 in the sixth, and two unearned runs in the ninth put the game out of reach. A RBI double by Jake Huggins in the bottom of the ninth capped the scoring.
Offensively, Geary led the way for the Keydets with his 2 for 4 day. Goss was 3 for 5 with four RBI to lead the home team.
VMI baseball will return to action and wrap up its series with UNCG, Sunday at 1 p.m.
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