Box Score Box Score

LEXINGTON, VA – The VMI Keydets plated five runs each in the fifth and eighth innings as it opened a three-game series with a 10-4 victory over the Winthrop Eagles at Gray-Minor Stadium on Friday evening in Big South Conference action.

The Eagles fall to 9-22 on the season and 2-5 in conference play, while the Keydets improve to 11-18 overall and 4-6 in the conference.

Coby Cowgill (5-1) earned the win allowing four runs on nine hits, one walk and six strikeouts in 7.1 innings of work. Matt Pierpont (3-5) suffered the loss pitching 7.1 innings and gave up 10 runs (nine earned) on 12 hits, one walk and eight strikeouts.

VMI's two five-run innings were each highlighted by home runs as George Piccirilli hit a three-run homer in the fifth, while Cameron Walter's two-run home run came in the eighth inning. Drew Bryan and Rob Dickinson collected an RBI each in the bottom of the fifth, and Nick Dwyer also recorded a two RBI single prior to Walter's home run in the bottom of the eighth. Chas Worthington added a pinch-hit single in the eighth before the two-run single by Dwyer.

Winthrop jumped out to a 4-0 lead over the Keydets heading into the fifth inning after scoring two runs each in the second and fourth innings. Jace Whitley drove in his first career RBI as an Eagle in the second to start the scoring, and Leighton Daniels followed in the next at-bat with an RBI groundout to second. Chas Crane was responsible for both runs in the fourth on his two RBI double off the center field wall.

Patrick Gamblin led Winthrop offensively with a season-high three hits, while Crane had two RBI in the contest. Five different VMI hitters had two hits each, and Piccirilli recorded a team-high three RBI.

The Eagles and Keydets will wrap up their three-game series on Saturday, Apr. 7 with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.