Sunday, May 06, 2001

LEXINGTON,Va. -- VMI scored a season high eight runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to overcome a 5-3 deficit as VMI defeated East Tennessee State 11-5 in Southern Conference baseball action Sunday afternoon at Patchin Field.

Trailing 1-0 after three innings, ETSU (21-27, 12-15 SoCon) would score three times in the top of the fourth courtesy of an RBI single by Kirk Keithley and a two-run home run by Tim Turner. VMI (14-30, 7-17 SoCon) would tie the game up at 3-3 in the bottom half of the fourth when sophomore Jason Annis (Placentia, Calif. / Valencia) hit a two-run home run to left center.

After East Tennessee State retook the lead at 5-3 with two in the top of the fifth, VMI would score eight in the bottom of the sixth on seven hits. The inning was highlighted by a pair of two-run doubles by second baseman John Schott (Natrona Heights, Pa. / Highlands) and DH Justin Briggs ( Rustburg, Va. / Rustburg) and a two-run single by left fielder Ryan Colvin (Plymouth, Ind. / Plymouth).

VMI reliever Phil Hendrix (3-1) (Statesville, N.C. / West Iredell) pitched 4-2/3 of three hit relief allowing no runs and three strikeouts to pick up the victory while ETSU starter Matt Nunley (3-3) picked up the loss.

ETSU right fielder Nathan Copeland's RBI double in the fifth inning extended his hitting streak to 20 consecutive games.