Box Score LEXINGTON, Va. – Junior
Brandon Delk/Newport News had two hits and three RBIs, senior captain
Matt Dickason/Chesapeake had one hit and two RBIs and freshman
Brandon Harvell/Yorktown hit his first collegiate home run, to lead Longwood University to a 6-4 Big South Conference North Division baseball victory at VMI on Friday night in Lexington. Junior
Brandon Vick/Newport News gained the pitching win for the visiting Lancers (15-24, 5-12 Big South), who stopped a recent 10-game losing streak with the win against the host Keydets (21-15, 9-8 Big South). Longwood and VMI will play the finale to the three-game conference series on Saturday afternoon, April 19 at 1 p.m. in Lexington.
Longwood scored three runs in the top of the first inning to take an early 3-0 advantage. Sophomore
Colton Konvicka/Richmond (2-5) doubled down the right field line to open the contest, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by classmate
C.J. Roth/Yorktown (1-4) and scored on an RBI single from Delk (2-5, 3 RBIs). Following a single by sophomore
Kyri Washington/Prospect (1-2), Dickason (1-4, 2 RBIs) promptly provided a two-run double down the left field line for the Lancers.
VMI got a run back in the first to make it 3-1. Jordan Tarsovich (0-5) reached on a fielding error at shortstop, later stole second base with two outs and crossed the plate via an RBI single from Cameron Walter (2-4, 2 RBIs). The Keydets added another run in the third inning to cut the margin to 3-2, getting a solo home run to left field with one out from Eric Mayers (1-5, RBI).
Longwood put another run on the scoreboard in the fourth inning to lead 4-2. Harvell (1-2, RBI) did the honors by hitting his first home run as a collegian, a solo shot to left field with two outs. The Lancers added two more runs in the seventh inning to lead 6-2. Harvell walked to get things started, moved to second on a ground ball to shortstop by Konvicka and on to third via a bunt single toward second base by Roth. Following a pitching change, Roth advanced a base on a wild pitch, before Delk hit a two-run single up the middle with one out to plate both runners.
VMI scored two runs in the eighth for the final two-run margin. Brandon Angus (1-4) doubled with two outs, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI single through the right side from Walter, who advanced to third on a single by David Geary (2-4). Walter crossed the plate when a fielding error at third base allowed Thomas Stallings (0-4) to reach base.
Vick (4-4) started for Longwood and pitched the first 8.0 innings for the mound win, scattering eight hits and four runs, two earned, with eight strikeouts and two walks. Junior
Aaron Myers/Newport News (1) tossed the final 1.0 scoreless inning for the Lancers to gain his first save of the season, yielding one hit with one strikeout (of Mayers to end the game) and no walks. It was also his 16th career save to tie the school record of Mark Montgomery, who is currently pitching for the New York Yankees' Class AAA Scranton Wilkes-Barre.
Connor Bach (2-6) started for VMI and pitched the first 6.1 innings to take the loss, allowing eight hits and six earned runs with four strikeouts and four walks. The Keydets used three other pitchers in the relief.
