Sam Roberts had three hits, including a leadoff home run, and Alex Haitsuka capped a five-run sixth inning with a home run of his own as the VMI Keydets rallied from an early 8-3 deficit to defeat the Charleston Southern Buccaneers, 15-12, in Big South baseball action in N. Charleston, S.C.
The Keydets (18-16-1, 7-7 Big South) jumped out to a 3-0 lead, as Roberts had two hits in the first three innings, but Charleston Southern (20-19, 7-7 Big South) scored eight times in the third, knocking out VMI starter Jason Farley. VMI came right back, scoring two in the fourth and one in the fifth, before grabbing the lead for good with a five-run sixth inning. All five runs in the frame scored with two outs, and Haitsuka’s third home run of the season, a two-run shot, was the key blow.
The sixth inning rally came against Charlie McCready (4-1), who had entered with an NCAA-leading 0.25 ERA. John Garrett (3-1) earned the win for VMI, as he worked 1 1/3 innings of relief.
Offensively, the 15 runs were a season-high for VMI. Roberts led the way with a 3 for 4 day that included his home run and four runs scored. The Keydet shortstop reached base in his first seven official at-bats of the series, before flying out in the ninth inning Saturday, and now has six consecutive multi-hit games. During that streak, he is batting 15 for 26 (.577) with 12 runs driven in.
Graham Sullivan drove in four runs with a 3 for 5 day, Rob Dickinson hit his first home run of the year and George Piccirilli chipped in with three hits as well. Finally, Haitsuka’s lone hit of the day, the sixth-inning homer, extending his hitting streak to 17 games.
After Roberts’ leadoff homer gave the Keydets a 1-0 lead, neither team could score again until the third. With two out, Roberts started another rally with an infield hit and advanced to second on a throwing error. Sullivan then drove him in with a single and stole second to get into scoring position for Piccirilli, who then delivered Sullivan with an RBI single of his own, giving the Keydets a 3-0 lead.
CSU exploded in the third, however, scoring eight runs and sending 12 men to the plate. The first eight hitters reached base against Farley, knocking him out of the game after only two innings. Farley surrendered eight runs, five of which were earned, and gave way to Alan Watts. A two-run double by Brantley Meier greeted Watts, and capped the inning’s scoring with the Bucs up, 8-3.
The Keydets started their comeback in the fourth, when Jacob Morley walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Dickinson then launched his first home run of the year, cutting the margin to 8-5, CSU, and the rally continued in the fifth. Roberts led off by being hit by a pitch and promptly stole second. Sullivan then doubled him home, making it CSU 8, VMI 6, and knocking out CSU starter Patrick Dolan. Dolan went 4 2/3 innings, allowing six earned runs on six hits.
The Bucs got one back in the sixth, when Walt Quattlebaum doubled to start the inning. Matt Still then had an infield hit, and after a bunt and a pop-out, Watts walked the next two hitters to force in a run. The two free passes ended an amazing run for the junior reliever, who had not walked a hitter in his first 29 1/3 innings of work this season. Garrett relieved and got out of the inning, setting the stage for the VMI sixth against CSU reliever McCready.
With one out, Chase Worthington singled to right center. Justin Hess flew out, but Roberts posted yet another hit, putting two men on for Sullivan. The senior singled to center, and the ball was misplayed by Meier, allowing Roberts and Worthington to both score, reducing the CSU lead to one, 9-8. Piccirilli followed with a game-tying single, and the next batter, Haitsuka, completed the comeback with his two-run home run, giving VMI an 11-9 edge.
Quattlebaum homered for the home team in the bottom half, cutting the Keydet lead to one, but a fielding error by McCready allowed two more Keydet runs to score in the seventh, putting VMI up 13-10.
The visitors added two more in the eighth, as with one out, Morley walked and Dickinson reached on an error. Montague then drove him Morley with an infield hit, and Worthington had a sacrifice fly to make the score VMI 15, CSU 10. The Bucs came back with two in the bottom of the inning, as Still hit a two-run home run off Travis Thomas, but Roberts notched his fourth save of the season in the ninth, pulling VMI back to .500 in conference play.
Seven of the nine Keydet starters had hits, and one of those who did not, Morley, reached twice via walks and scored two runs. The only VMI player to not reach base was Hess, who did not record a hit or walk in a conference game for the first time this season.
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