Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

LEXINGTON, VA – The Winthrop baseball team recorded a combined 25 hits in both games on Saturday afternoon as it swept a doubleheader against the VMI Keydets at Gray-Minor Stadium to wrap up a three-game series. Winthrop won by scores of 6-5 and 7-4.

The Eagles improve to 11-22 on the season and 4-5 in conference action, while the Keydets fall to 11-20 overall and 4-8 in conference play.

Eric Ruth (3-2) earned the win in game one tossing 8.0 innings and allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits, no walks and eight strikeouts. Reed Garrett (2-2) took the loss giving up one run (none earned) on two hits, four walks and four strikeouts in 4.0 innings of relief. Austin Stuart (3) recorded the save pitching one scoreless inning on one hit, no walks and one strikeout.

Winthrop got a two RBI single from Matt Lobacz in the top of the second to put the Eagles ahead 2-0, but VMI would respond with three runs of its own in the bottom of the second highlighted by a two RBI triple off the right field wall by Rob Dickinson that gave the Keydets a 3-2 lead. Matt Winn drove in the first run of the inning with two outs on a single to center field prior to the triple by Dickinson.

Patrick Gamblin's two-run homer off the scoreboard in left center field highlighted a three-run fifth inning for Winthrop to give it a 5-3 advantage. Lobacz also added an RBI single to center field in the inning. The Eagles collected four hits in the inning from Gamblin, Lobacz, Chas Crane and Justin Hopper, while Jason Driver started the inning with a walk and came home on the long ball by Gamblin.

VMI trimmed its deficit to 5-4 in the bottom of the seventh as Nick Dwyer scored when Brandon Diamond hit into a pinch-hit 6-4-3 double play. Dwyer led off the inning by reaching on a fielding error by Ruth and went to third on a hit-and-run single to right field by Cameron Walter. Dickinson's third hit of the game, a solo home run to right field, tied the contest for the Keydets at 5-5 to lead off the bottom of the eighth inning. It was the second home run of the season for Dickinson.

Max Vogel delivered a two-out pinch-hit single in the top of the ninth to put Winthrop back on top of VMI 6-5. TJ Olesczuk started the inning by reaching on an error by Berkley Hawkins at third and then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Crane. Olesczuk would then score on the single by Vogel.

Lobacz led the Eagles in the doubleheader opener with three hits and three RBI, tying his season-high in both categories. Dickinson had a team-high three hits and three RBI for the Keydets.

Tyler Klitsch (2-2) picked up the win on the mound for Winthrop in game two surrendering three runs (two earned) on 10 hits, no walks and four strikeouts in 8.0 innings pitched. Jeremy Brown (0-4) suffered the loss in the finale pitching 4.1 innings and gave up four runs on seven hits, two walks and three strikeouts.

The Eagles would strike first in the top of the first inning of game two on Olesczuk's two RBI single to left field to put Winthrop in front 2-0, but Jacob Morley cut the lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the second for they Keydets on his solo homer to right center field for his seventh home run of the season.

Driver and Gamblin extended Winthrop's lead in the top of the fifth to 4-1 after scoring two runs in the inning. Driver belted his first career home run as an Eagle to right field with one out in the inning, and Gamblin followed two batters later with an RBI double down the left field line. Crane came home on the double by Gamblin as he doubled off the right field wall after Driver's homer.

VMI responded with two runs of its own in the bottom of the fifth to make it a 4-3 contest. Dickinson and George Piccirilli each had an RBI single in the inning as Dickinson's hit went to right field and Piccirilli's to center field.

Olesczuk's third home run of the season, a two-run shot, highlighted a three-run seventh inning as Winthrop increased its lead to 7-3. The homer by Olesczuk was the second of the game for the Eagles, while Lobacz added an RBI sacrifice fly to left field to start the scoring for Winthrop.

Stuart would run into trouble in the bottom of the ninth trying to close the game out for the Eagles as he allowed the first two runners on base including an RBI single to center field by Dickinson. The Keydets then had runners at second and third with one out before Stuart struck out Morley looking and got Nick Dwyer to ground out and end the game.

Driver led Winthrop offensively in game two with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate, while Olesczuk drove in four RBI. Dickinson had a team-leading four hits for VMI and two RBI.

The Eagles will be back in action on Tuesday, Apr. 10 as they travel to Charleston, SC to face the College of Charleston Cougars. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.