FURMAN BASEBALL SPLITS DOUBLEHEADER WITH VMI
Lexington, Va. -- The VMI Keydets split a doubleheader with the Furman Paladins on Saturday at Patchin Field, losing 7-1 in the first game before rebounding to earn an 8-5 victory in the second contest.
In the first contest, Furman (10-10, 3-5 SoCon) scored four runs in the third inning en route to a 7-1 win.
After VMI (8-12, 5-3 SoCon) sophomore pitcher Duke Acors and Furman pitcher Tom Mastny pitched two scoreless innings to start the game, the Paladin bats came to life. Andrew Greene began the scoring, coming home on a sacrifice fly from Clint Hill. Craig Caudill then doubled down the left field line to score A.J. Davidiuk. Furman added their third run of the inning on single from Sam McLain to bring Caudill home and take a 3-0 lead.
The game would remain the same until the top of the sixth when Case Cassedy smacked a sacrifice fly to score Dominic Frankey. The Paladins added two more runs in the eighth on a double from Cole Hubka, bringing home McLain and Frankey, increasing Furman's lead to 7-0.
VMI's lone run came in the bottom of the ninth when senior Andy Barden doubled to right-center field, scoring sophomore Chris Brooks.
On the mound, Mastny went the distance, allowing one run on seven hits while striking out five batters. Acors was given the loss.
In the second game, the Keydets pounded three homers on their way to an 8-5 win.
Furman jumped on the scoreboard in the top of the first when Caudill raced home after a wild pitch from VMI senior Phil Hendrix, taking a 1-0 lead.
Senior Justin Briggs answered in the bottom of the first with a solo homer to center field. The Keydets continued to score in the second when senior Jason Annis came home on a grounder from sophomore Matt Smith. Freshman Brandon Massenburg followed with a two-run homer off the top of the scoreboard in left-centerfield, scoring sophomore Jon Wade.
The Keydets continued to add to their advantage in the third when freshman Allan Wimmer scored on an error by Furman pitcher Patrick Griffin. Wade followed the play by hitting a three-run homer to left field, scoring Annis and sophomore Elliott Erbe, giving VMI an 8-1 advantage.
Furman added a run in the fourth inning on a single to right-center field from
Nick Wajda, scoring Derek Norman. The lead continued to shrink in the fifth
when Frankey doubled down the left field line to bring home McLain.Norman added
a single to center field, scoring Frankey in the seventh.
Caudill finished up the scoring in the eighth when he singled to right to bring
home Wajda.
On the mound, Hendrix pitched six innings, allowing five hits and three runs while striking out two to get the win. Sophomore Jeff DeMara pitched two innings, picking up the save. Griffin was given the loss.
The Keydets and Paladins will finish their series tomorrow. The opening pitch is set for 1 p.m.