LEXINGTON, Va. - The final series of the
2010 Presbyterian College baseball season opened in disappointing fashion as
the Blue Hose squandered a 7-5 lead in the sixth as VMI took a 10-7 win on Thursday
evening at Gray-Minor Stadium.
VMI (32-18,
13-12 BSC) cashed in for three runs in the first inning to take a 3-0 lead
after the first inning of play.
An inning
later, PC (13-39, 5-20 BSC) answered by scoring three runs of their own to knot
the score at 3-3. With runners on the
corners, Jesse Harmon singled up the middle to plate Nate Horton. Two batters later, Mack Hite singled through
the left side to bring Harmon in to score for PC's second run. The final tally came across on Gabe Grammer's
hit through the left side to bring in Jeff Tatum.
Two additional
VMI runs in the bottom of the second inning gave the Keydets the lead for the
second time in the game. VMI scored the
pair of runs on a one-out RBI double to center and a sacrifice fly.
Three PC runs
in the fourth catapulted the Blue Hose to their first lead of the day at
6-5. VMI's starting pitcher issued four
consecutive walks to plate PC's first run of the frame before being lifted for
a relief pitcher. Tony Micklon welcomed
the new pitcher to the game by lacing a single to right field. The hit brought Hite and Grammer to score on
the play and take the lead.
After VMI was
scoreless in the bottom of the fourth, PC tacked on an insurance run in the
fifth inning. Tatum was hit by a pitch
to leadoff the inning. After a fly-ball
to left field, Hite grounded out to third base.
The throw across the diamond retired Hite but Tatum rounded second and
went for third. VMI's first baseman
threw the ball back across the diamond, but the ball went awry, allowing Tatum
to score for the third time in the game.
The lead,
however, was short-lived as Liberty drew even with two runs in the bottom of
the sixth inning. Consecutive singles
followed by a sacrifice bunt put runners at second and third base. An infield groundout retired the second out
but allowed the runners to advance.
Starting pitcher Chris Powell was able to retire the third out via strikes;
however, it was a passed ball which brought in an unearned tying run.
In the seventh,
VMI extended the lead with two more runs.
A hit batsman opened the inning and went around to score on a single
with one out in the inning. Two batters
later, another single brought the second run in from third base. With one out and runners on the corners, an
attempted sacrifice bunt was popped to first base. The ball was caught and then rifled to third
base to retire the side on the double play.
A leadoff home
run to open the bottom of the eighth gave VMI its final run of the game and made
the score 10-7.
The Blue Hose
bats fell silent in the final four innings with the only hit being Harmon's
single to first base in the sixth. He
would reach third base on the second throwing error of the game by the Keydet
first baseman. The PC left fielder would
be stranded on third base to end the inning.
VMI would record four strikeouts in the final two innings to close play
for the day.
VMI's Garrett
worked the final five complete to earn the victory to improve to 5-1 on the
year. Powell went seven strong innings
and was given the loss to fall to 5-5 on the year. Powell struck out five while walking
four. He scattered six hits and gave up
six runs in the game.
The series
continues on Friday afternoon with a 4:30 p.m. matinee in Lexington.
