LEXINGTON, Va. - Charleston Southern (18-30, 9-10) rallied from a four-run deficit but VMI (15-32, 7-15) would come from behind to pull out a 6-5 victory on Friday night at Gray-Minor Stadium.

VMI opened the scoring in the bottom of the first when Nick Dwyer stroked a double into the left field corner that would score Rob Dickinson to give the Keydets a 1-0 lead. Dickinson reached with a single to lead-off the inning off CSU starter Ryan Gunther (0-8).

The Keydets added to their run total in the bottom of the second inning, fueled by a two-run triple off the bat of Dickinson that scored Drew Bryan and Chase Worthington. George Piccirilli also added an RBI single in the inning to give VMI a 4-0 lead.

Charleston Southern would rally in the top half of the fifth off VMI starter Jeremy Brown (1-5). With two outs, Bobby Ison singled up the middle to score Robbie Streett, who drew a walk and stole second, cutting the VMI lead down to 4-1. Harrison Wilkins then followed with an RBI single that scored Ison and John Faircloth singled to give the Bucs runners on first and second, trailing 4-2. After an infield single from Alex Tomasovich, Chase Shelton then doubled off the wall in right center field to clear the bases and give CSU a 5-4 lead.

Piccirilli drew a lead-off walk to start the bottom of the fifth and was followed by a single from Jacob Morley. A sacrifice bunt from Cameron Walter moved both runners up 90 feet and Gunther struck out Dwyer for out number two. Keydet catcher Matt Winn would deliver the big blow though with a two-out double over Ison's head in centerfield that scored both Walter and Morley and gave VMI a 6-5 lead that would not be relinquished.

Gunther took the loss for the Bucs. He allowed six runs (all earned) in five innings of work. VMI collected nine hits off the right-hander. Gunther struck out seven Keydet hitters while issuing two walks.

Freshman Austin Weekley followed Gunther, throwing three scoreless frames and allowing just one hit. He walked one and struck out one.

Brown picked up his first win of the season with a five inning performance on the mound for the Keydets. He allowed five runs (all earned) on nine hits and struck out three. He also walked one.

Reed Garrett threw the final four innings for VMI, picking up his first career save. Garrett surrendered only one hit while striking out six.

Dickinson led the Keydets offensive attack, going 3-for-5 in the game with two RBI and two runs scored.

CSU got 2-for-4 performances from Ison, Faircloth, Tomasovich and Shelton in the contest.

The two teams will play game two of the series tomorrow evening. The game is scheduled for a 5:00 p.m. start at Gray-Minor Stadium. Left-hander Campbell Henkel is expected to toe the rubber for the Keydets while Charleston Southern is expected to counter with southpaw Charlie McCready.