LEXINGTON, Va. - Tyler Thornburg pitched eight dominating innings and the Charleston Southern offense produced the game's only run as the Buccaneers defeated No. 28 VMI, 1-0, Saturday afternoon in the first game of a doubleheader at Gray-Minor Field. The Keydets took the nightcap, 7-2.

GAME ONE - CSU 1, VMI 0 - Box Score
Nick Chinners saw his 18-game hitting streak come to an end, but his sacrifice fly in the 3rd inning gave the Buccaneers just enough firepower for their first Big South win of the season.

Thornburg (4-1) tied a career-high with 11 strikeouts while scattering just two hits in his eight innings of mastery. Stew Brase pitched a perfect 9th inning and struck out a pair himself to earn the save. Sam Roberts (3-1) was the hard-luck loser after allowing the game's only run in 7.1 innings on the mound.

The Buccaneers (10-15, 1-4 Big South Conference) played small ball to secure the only run of the game, in the top of the 3rd inning. With one out, Drew Woodall drew a walk off of Roberts, who then plunked Brantley Meier to put two runners on. Jon Matthews was credited with a base hit after reaching on a bunt attempt, setting the stage for a Chinners fly out that scored Woodall and gave Charleston Southern a 1-0 advantage they would not relinquish.

Thornburg did not allow a hit until the 5th inning, when Alex Haitsuka broke up the no-hit bid with a one-out double. The only other time the Keydets advanced runners into scoring position was the 8th inning, when a walk, a bunt single and a double-steal put Keydets on second and third with one out. But Thornburg struck out Steele Myers and got Roberts to fly out, ending the threat.

The CSU flamethrower retired the VMI side in order in the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 6th and 7th innings. He struck out the side in the 7th frame and threw 125 pitches on the day, 82 for strikes.

Brase used just 12 pitches to record his second save of the season. The junior ended the game by striking out clean-up hitter Graham Sullivan.

Chinners recorded just one official at-bat, grounding into a double play in the 1st inning. His sacrifice fly came in the 3rd, and he was hit by a pitch in the 5th before drawing a walk in the 8th. His now-expired 18-game hitting streak was the longest of his career.

GAME TWO - VMI 7, CSU 2 - Box Score

The Buccaneers built a 2-0 lead but could not hold off the Keydets for long, leading to a Saturday split. Andrew White (1-1) was credited with the loss after allowing five runs in 6.2 innings, while Jason Farley (3-1) went the distance for the Keydets, striking out six and earning the win.

Charleston Southern wasted no time taking the lead. Meier led off the game with a double and swiped third with one out. That set up another sacrifice fly by Chinners, making the score 1-0.

The Buccaneers doubled their advantage in the 4th frame. With one out, Chinners worked a walk, and Quattlebaum followed with a sharp single up the middle. Matt Still was hit by a pitch, loading the bases with Tom Burkett at the plate. Burkett delivered the run after reaching on a fielder's choice, increasing the lead to 2-0 Bucs.

After being held scoreless in the day's first 13 innings, VMI (20-4, 4-2 Big South Conference) finally broke through in the bottom of the 5th. With two out and two on, Jordan Ballard blasted a three-run home run, his second of the series, to put the Keydets up by a 3-2 count.

The Keydets padded their lead with two more runs in the 7th inning. White issued back-to-back two-out walks, leading Stuart Lake to summon Corey Deighan from the bullpen. After walking a man himself, Deighan surrendered a two-run single to Tanner Biagini to make the score 5-2.

The home team scored their final two runs in the 8th inning. Cory Spangenberg plated one run with a sacrifice fly, and the 7th and final VMI run of the game came off of an RBI single by Ballard.

Ballard was the hitting hero for the Keydets in game two, going 3-for-4 with his game-winning home run and 4 RBI.

Charleston Southern continues their road swing on Tuesday, when they face College of Charleston at 5 p.m.