Unearned Runs Undo Buccaneers in 10-2 Loss to VMI

Freshman Steve Antolik hit his 10th home run of the season on Saturday, a solo shot in the fourth inning.

LEXINGTON, Va. – Despite giving up just three earned runs, the Charleston Southern baseball team fell to Virginia Military Institute, 10-2, on Saturday. The Buccaneers committed six errors, leading to seven unearned runs by the Keydets. Freshman Steve Antolik accounted for half of CSU’s runs, hitting a solo home run in the fourth inning, his 10th of the year.

Antolik joins his teammate Derek Smith, who has 11 on the season, with a double figure homer total after the Buccaneers went without a player in double digits since 2004, when three Bucs achieved the feat.

Making his eighth start of the season on the mound for CSU (18-33, 6-14 Big South), freshman Anthony Markham fell to 4-6 on the year despite giving up just one earned run. Over his five and a third innings pitched, Markham allowed nine hits and walked four batters, helping VMI (28-24, 13-7) score eight runs, but also struck out six Keydets.

Senior Trey Barham went the first six innings for the home team, improving his record to 4-5 this season while allowing just two runs and striking out seven Buccaneers. Pitching the final three scoreless innings, redshirt-sophomore Travis Smink earned his seventh save of the year for VMI.

Things started off poorly for the Bucs in the bottom of the second inning, when a fielding error allowed the leadoff man to reach. After a popped up bunt accounted for the first out, a pair of singles loaded the bases for the Keydets. Freshman Sam Roberts put the home team on the board with a single that brought freshman Justin Topping, who reached on the error, across the home plate. One out later, another error brought a pair of runs home for VMI, extending its advantage to 3-0. Sophomore Jordan Ballard then put his team in front by five with a two-run single through the left side.

Antolik ended the shutout bid in the top of the fourth, leading off the inning with a home run over the wall in left field for his 33rd run batted in for the season. Barham kept the Buccaneers from building a momentum, however, retiring three consecutive batters, with the final two going down swinging.

After a double play seemed to quench another CSU rally, junior Mark Perry kept the top of the fifth inning alive with a two-out single up the middle. He moved to second on a balk by Barham, putting him in position to score when junior Kory Morian followed with a double to right field, making it a 5-2 ball game.

An error by the Buccaneer defense in the bottom half of the inning allowed the home team to restore its five-run advantage. With a runner on a second and two outs, a fielding error gave the Keydets runners on the corners.  Senior Shane Geisslinger, who reached on the error, then stole second to give VMI two runners in scoring position. Roberts made the most of the opportunity, hitting a double to right center to score both players, putting the home team in front 7-2.

A sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth inning extended the advantage to six runs, and the Keydets added two more in the bottom half of the seventh to reach double digits for the second straight game.

The series finale is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Sunday, when CSU will look to avoid getting swept by VMI for the second straight season.