Baseball VMIKeydets.com

Miscues Cost Baseball In 6-5, 11-Inning Loss to #28 Virginia

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.? Leading 5-3 through seven innings, VMI made four errors in the final four innings to allow #28 Virginia three unearned runs in a 6-5, walk-off Cavalier victory in 11 innings on Tuesday evening at Davenport Field.

VMI's (26-23) season-high five errors thwarted any chances of the Keydets' first back-to-back victories over Virginia (35-17) in 48 years, following last season's 5-2 win in Lexington over the Cavaliers.

Instead, the Keydets dropped their first game this season when leading or tied entering the ninth.

With the VMI bullpen cruising through the middle innings, Virginia scored its first run since the second inning in the eighth when David Adams stole second base, went to third on a throwing error by catcher Mike Roberts, then scampered home when the Keydet defense lackadaisically played the ball back into the infield.

Michael Bowman (3-5) then came on to attempt his first save of the season. The first batter he faced, Patrick Wingfield, sent a chopper to shortstop A.J. Yoder, who saw the ball bounce out of his glove. Two batters later, Jarrett Parker, who came on to pinch-run for Wingfield, scored on the final of Greg Miclat's game-high three RBIs.

Bowman escaped the ninth by retiring the next two batters to send it to extra innings, where the Keydets were 3-0 this season. The Keydets had base runners in both the tenth and 11th, but could do no damage against Michael Schwimer and Robert Morey (2-0).

A double from Franco Valdes led off the 11th inning, as he was lifted for pinch-runner Corey Hunt. With one out, John Barr sent a chopper to the right-side of the infield, where second baseman Shane Geisslinger fielded the infield single, but threw wild to first base, allowing Hunt to score from second base.

Bowman was charged with the loss, allowing a pair of unearned runs on three hits in 2.1 innings. Keydet starter Matt Murrer, making his first career start, worked four innings, allowing three runs on five hits, before giving way to Duty, who who worked four innings allowing an unearned run on two hits.

Miclat scored the game's first run in the first inning after doubling, then gave the Cavaliers a 3-1 lead in the second on a two-run single.

The Keydets took the lead with a three-run fifth off of starter Jake Cowan, who was lifted after 4.1 innings, charged with five runs, four earned, on five hits. Mike Roberts' infield single tied the game, before the junior catcher scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch. Jordan Ballard's base knock into right field gave the Keydets the 5-3 advantage headed to the back-half of the game.

Miclat led the Cavalier offense, going 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs, while Phil Gosselin, Valdes and Wingfield each had two-hit nights. For the Keydets, Sam Roberts and Ballard accounted for the team's only two-hit outings.

The Keydets return to action on Wednesday evening, taking on Longwood at 6 p.m. at Gray-Minor Stadium. The game will be broadcast online at www.VMIKeydets.com.
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Jordan Ballard

#26 Jordan Ballard

IF
6' 3"
Sophomore
R/R
Michael Bowman

#17 Michael Bowman

RHP
6' 3"
Junior
R/R
Shane Geisslinger

#2 Shane Geisslinger

IF
5' 8"
Senior
R/R
Mike Roberts

#6 Mike Roberts

C
6' 2"
Junior
R/R
Sam Roberts

#4 Sam Roberts

IF/OF/P
6' 2"
Freshman
L/R
A.J. Yoder

#10 A.J. Yoder

IF
5' 11"
Junior
L/R

Players Mentioned

Jordan Ballard

#26 Jordan Ballard

6' 3"
Sophomore
R/R
IF
Michael Bowman

#17 Michael Bowman

6' 3"
Junior
R/R
RHP
Shane Geisslinger

#2 Shane Geisslinger

5' 8"
Senior
R/R
IF
Mike Roberts

#6 Mike Roberts

6' 2"
Junior
R/R
C
Sam Roberts

#4 Sam Roberts

6' 2"
Freshman
L/R
IF/OF/P
A.J. Yoder

#10 A.J. Yoder

5' 11"
Junior
L/R
IF