University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
VMI vs. Winthrop
05.20.2009 | Baseball
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#2 Winthrop Eliminates #8 VMI |  |
ASHEVILLE, N.C. ? Bryn Henderson's solo home run in the seventh inning gave No. 2 Winthrop the lead for the good as the Eagles defeated No. 8 VMI, 8-4, in Game 4 of the 2009 Royal Purple Big South Baseball Championship, May 21 at historic McCormick Field in Asheville, N.C. With the victory, the Eagles improve to 33-24 and advance to play Friday at a to-be-determined time. VMI is eliminated from the tournament and ends its season at 18-35.
The game was scoreless through two-and-a-half innings until Winthrop crossed the plate first in the bottom of the third. Chas Crane was hit by a pitch, was sacrificed to second by Tyler McBride, and scored on Kevin Nolan's double off the rightfield wall to give Winthrop a 1-0 lead.
VMI countered the next inning with two runs to move ahead 2-1. Jordan Ballard singled to center and moved to second on Graham Sullivan's groundout. Alex Haitsuka doubled to right to score Ballard and later scored on Nolan's throwing error. But Winthrop came right back and tied it in the bottom half of the fourth inning when Eddie Rohan doubled to left, reached third on a wild pitch, and scored the tying run on Matt Thielepape's single to left.
The Keydets jumped back ahead 4-2 in the fifth when A.J. Yoder belted his third home run of the season -- a solo shot over the 40-foot scoreboard in right field, and Ballard singled home Tanner Biagini, who doubled after Yoder's blast.
The Eagles tied the game again in the sixth inning when Thielepape blasted a towering home run that bounced off the top of, and over the scoreboard to make the score 4-3. New Keydet pitcher Michael Devine walked John Murrian, who would eventually move around the bases on two ground outs and score the tying run on McBride's shallow single down the left field line. In the seventh, Henderson delivered Devine's first offering over the leftfield wall for his fourth home run of the year and a 5-4 Eagle advantage. Murrian later doubled home Eddie Tisdale to make it 6-4. Winthrop added two runs in the eighth to put the game away.
Winthrop starter Matteo D'Angelo, battling a blister on his pitching hand all game, went seven innings and allowed four runs (three earned), walked none and struck out two to improve to 8-2. Tyler Mizenko pitched two scoreless innings to collect his 14th save of the season. He gave up one hit and fanned three batters.
Devine took the loss for VMI after allowing two hits and two runs in one inning of work. VMI starter Matt Edwards allowed three runs on six hits in five innings for the no-decision.
Winthrop out-hit VMI, 12-11, marking the fourth consecutive Big South tournament game in which both teams had at least 10 hits. VMI recorded 10-plus hits in all three of its tournament games.
Winthrop Head Coach Joe Hudak
“Our guys did a good job doing the things we needed to do. It was a big win for us. We live to fight another day. Trent O'Neal, our trainer, did a good job of getting the guys ready; he is certainly our MVP today. It was a good win and I am proud of our guys.”
VMI Head Coach Marlin Ikenberry
“I thought that Matt Edwards did a great job of getting us into the ballgame, but unfortunately our bullpen couldn't hold them down in the late innings. I'm proud of what our seniors have done for our program over the last four years.”
