Tanner Biagini's one-out single scored pinch runner Tyler Brown with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth as VMI edged Norfolk State 6-5 on Wednesday night at Gray-Minor Stadium.

 

The win was the second this year for the Keydets (14-26) over the Spartans (13-18), and both came by one run.

 

Jerrod Farley homered twice and drove in four runs for NSU.

 

With the score tied at 5-5, Graham Sullivan walked to lead off the ninth against NSU reliever Chase Davenport. Sullivan was lifted in favor of Brown, who then advanced to second base on a passed ball and to third on a sacrifice by Jacob Morley. Davenport then walked Justin Topping and A.J. Yoder intentionally to load the bases and set up a potential force play. But Biagini knocked in Brown with a single to left to end it.

 

Davenport (3-4) took the loss, allowing one earned run and getting just one out in the ninth.

 

Chris Henderson (3-5) got the win, pitching 3.1 hitless innings of relief. He struck out five.

 

VMI led 5-0 after four innings. Sullivan hit an RBI single in the second off Spartan right hander Ryan Davis, who was making his first career start. The Keydets then scored four in the fourth. Morley (double) and Yoder (single) each drove in two runs with a hit in the frame.

 

But the Spartans rallied behind the hot bat of Farley. His solo homer to left off VMI starter Adam Lopez got NSU on the board. NSU then scored four times in the sixth to tie it. Brandon Hairston doubled with one out to chase Lopez. After Josh McPherson hit Anselmo Cantu, Jermaine Berry hit a two-out RBI double to score Hairston.

 

Farley then tied the game up with his sixth homer of the year, a three-run blast to left.

 

Farley went 3-for-4 for NSU. TiQuan Griffin was 2-for-4.

 

Yoder, Sullivan and Alex Haitsuka had two hits each for VMI.

 

The Spartans host Savannah State for a 3 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday.