FARMVILLE, Va. – VMI scored runs in the first five innings straight to take the midweek contest from Longwood, 12-6, Tuesday night at Buddy Bolding Stadium.
 
VMI (13-13) scored nine runs in the first five innings with just four hits in the stretch to build an insurmountable lead for the Lancers (7-19), who outhit VMI, 11-7. The Lancers trailed 3-0 and tied the game at three in the home half of the second with a three-run frame before VMI broke out for three runs in the top of the third.
 
In the loss team captain Sammy Miller stayed scoring hot with his third consecutive game with at least three hits, going 3-for-4 with one walk, one RBI, and a pair of runs scored. Miller's game lifted his batting average to a season-best .303. Miller is 10-for-13 in the last three games for the Lancers.
 
Joining Miller with multi-hit games were the two hitter – Justin Mitchell – and the three hitter – Nate Blakeney – as each picked up a pair of hits. Longwood's top three hitters in the order combined to go 7-for-13 at the dish Tuesday.
 
Eric Byrd (1-0) picked up the win out of the bullpen, spreading nine hits across 4.0 innings of work, holding Longwood to three runs, two earned.
 
Eric Harp (1-4) suffered the loss after allowing four runs in 1.2 innings of work on four hits and three walks.
 
Todd Moxey made the start in a designated staff day for the Lancers and received no decision. The freshman right-hander worked 2.0 hitless innings with three runs, one earned, allowed.
 
Out of the bullpen Tommy Green and Michael Catlin each worked hitless outings. Green struck out four batters in 1.1 inning of work, while Catlin tossed 1.2 perfect innings with a pair of strikeouts.
 
VMI took advantage of an early base runner to take the lead in the first inning. Nathan Eaton was hit by pitch in the first plate appearance of the game. After the lead-off man got to first Eaton, the team leader in stolen bases, swiped his 17th of the season and advanced to third base on a throwing error on the steal attempt. With one away in the inning, Jacob Jaye hit a fly ball to left-center to bring in Eaton and give VMI a 1-0 lead on the unearned run.
 
The Keydets added to the lead as rain began to fall at Buddy Bolding Stadium in the top of the second inning. Matt Dunlevy reached on a walk to start the frame. After Jake Huggins replaced him, reaching on a fielder's choice, Collin Fleischer walked to give VMI a pair of runners with one out. With runners at second and third and one out Will Malbon walked to load the bases with one away. Michael Diodato flew out to left and brought in a run on a sacrifice fly. On the same play as Fleischer tried to advance from second to third, an errant throw into left field allowed the runner to score, making it 3-0 VMI on its second unearned run of the game.
 
Longwood got the offense going in the home half of the second. Nathan Iskowitz walked to start the inning and went first-to-third on a well-executed hit-and-run with Ryan Shull singling to right-center. Jawan McAllister brought in the first run with a safety squeeze bunt up the first base line. The next batter, Eli Mercado, singled to right to bring in Shull and cut the deficit to one. Two batters later, with Mercado at second, Miller singled to left and tied the game at three.
 
VMI batted around to retake the lead in the third inning. Jaye walked with one out and moved to second base on a balk. The next hitter, Peyton Maddox, doubled down the left field line to bring in Jaye and put VMI ahead, 4-3. Two batters later, with two away, Huggins singled to center to plate Maddox and give VMI a 5-3 advantage. After Huggins stole second base and Fleisher singled to move Huggins to third, a wild pitch plated Huggins to make it a 6-3 lead. VMI scored again in the fourth to make it a 7-3 VMI advantage.
 
Miller stayed hot to get Longwood back on the board in the fourth. The captain singled back up the middle with the bases clear and two outs to start the rally. After Mitchell singled through the right side, Blakeney singled into center to bring in a run, cutting the deficit to 7-4.
 
VMI added to the lead with a pair of runs in the sixth before Longwood kept VMI off the board in the sixth, the first inning for the Keydets without a run.
 
Miller again came through with another hit in the home half of the sixth to spark a Lancer rally. Miller reached on an infield single for his third hit to lead off the frame. Mitchell, the next batter, doubled into left-center field to bring in Miller and cut the deficit to 9-5.
 
After VMI scored again in the top of the seventh to make it a 10-5 lead, the speed of McAllister brought in another run for the Lancers. McAllister led off the home half of the inning with a walk. McAllister stole second and then moved to third on a throwing error by the catcher. Antwaun Tucker brought him in with an RBI ground out to short, cutting the deficit to 10-6.
 
The two teams each wore gold armbands during the action as the Lancers and Keydets played their second-annual Go4TheGoal game, supporting in the fight against childhood cancer. Go4TheGoal is a national charity put together to help children with pediatric cancer achieve their goals through sports.
 
A year after each team wore golden shoelaces in their matchup at VMI, the Lancers and Keydets donated to the Go4TheGoal campaign and wore the armbands in support. In addition, the Longwood softball team wore gold in its game against Hampton.
 
Longwood continues its homestand with George Mason coming to town Wednesday. First pitch between the Lancers and Patriots is set for 6 p.m. Wednesday at Buddy Bolding Stadium.
 
 
#GoWood