Box Score Box Score
Photo Gallery

VMI starting pitcher Jason Farley kept the High Point University baseball team scoreless through seven innings as the Keydets beat HPU 5-2 Saturday at WIlliard Stadium. Farley improved to 2-1 on the season while HPU starter Brian Jones pitched six innings, allowing three runs to fall to 0-1 on the season.

“The story of the series so far has been VMI's starting pitching,” said head coach Craig Cozart. “As good as Adam Lopez was last night, Farley was that much better tonight, limiting us to six hits. We have to figure out a way to stack some hits together tomorrow. We have pitched well enough in this series but quite surprisingly we can't score runs. I am a little disappointed with the energy tonight but we will fix it for tomorrow.”

VMI took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second on RBI doubles by Jordan Ballard and Ombri Rivers but Jones got out of further trouble with a strikeout and a fly out, stranding two runners on base.

The Keydets added one more run in the third, as the first three VMI batters hit singles off Jones, with Cory Spangenberg scoring the run.

Jones settled in after the third inning, pitching three scoreless innings before he was relieved by Corey Swickle in the top of the seventh. Jones finished the night with six innings pitched, giving up three runs on 10 hits with two strikeouts.

Swickle gave up a solo homer to Jordan Ballard in the seventh and VMI added an unearned run in the eighth inning off Wes Torrez to take a 5-0 lead.

The Panthers broke up the shutout with a two-run eighth inning. Murray White IV and Kyle Mahoney got on base with singles and Drew Geissinger loaded the bases when he reached on a fielder's choice. Farley hit Steve Antolik with a pitch to bring home one run and Max Fulginiti hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Mahoney.

Michael Devine had a perfect ninth inning for VMI to pick up his third save of the season.

High Point (12-6, 0-2 Big South) and VMI (18-1, 2-0 Big South) will play the final game of the series Sunday at 1 p.m. at Williard Stadium. HPU freshman Jared Avidon will face junior Sam Roberts.