NEW HAVEN, Conn. – In dramatic fashion at George H.W. Bush '48 Field, the Yale baseball team clinched a thrilling 6-5 victory in the bottom of the ninth against VMI, courtesy of a clutch walk-off double by
Alec Atkinson. With Yale down by one run with one out in the final inning, Atkinson delivered a shot down the right-field line driving in
Kaiden Dossa and
Jake Williams and giving the Bulldogs a weekend sweep of the Keydets.
Yale has won eight straight games and improved to 11-3 overall. VMI dropped to 13-7 overall.
Key Performers
- Atkinson was the hero in the ninth with a walk-off double. He was 2-for-4 and reached base three times.
- First year Jack Ohman started on the mound for the Bulldogs. Ohman tossed 5.0 innings without allowing a run. He has not allowed an earned run yet this season.
- Fellow first year Jack Dauer went 2-for-3 with three RBI.
Scoring Summary
- Bottom 2nd | The Bulldogs opened the scoring effort with one run in the second. After Tommy Martin was hit by a pitch and Max Imhoff singled to right, Yale executed a perfect safety squeeze. Jeff Pierantoni laid down a great bunt to score Martin. 1-0 YALE
- Bottom 6th | Yale added a second run on another safety squeeze, this time by Jack Dauer. 2-0 YALE
- Top 7th | VMI cut the Yale lead in a half with an RBI single by Kazuya Jordan. YALE 2-1
- Top 8th | The Keydets took their first lead of the game on a two-RBI double by Grayson Fitzwater. 3-2 VMI
- Bottom 8th | The Bulldogs quickly retook the lead in the eighth. After Atkinson and Martin reached base, Dauer doubled to right field, driving in both runners. 4-3 YALE
- Top 9th | VMI grabbed back the lead with two runs in the ninth. 5-4 VMI
- Bottom 9th | Dossa led off the inning with a single to left and advanced to second on a sac bunt by Garrett Larsen. Williams followed up with a single moving Dossa to third, and advanced into scoring position on an errant throw. Atkinson worked himself into a 2-1 count and laced a double down the line easily scoring Dossa and Williams, winning it for the Bulldogs. 6-5 YALE
Game Notes
- Yale earned the weekend sweep of VMI. The Bulldogs improved to 5-0 against the Keydets all-time.
- The Bulldogs extended their winning streak to eight games, matching their longest consecutive wins streak since 2018.
- Yale has played very well at Bush Field, improving to 5-0 at home this season.
- Ohman threw five shutout innings, but ended up with a no-decision. He has not allowed an earned run in 19.1 innings pitched.
- Alex Hwang, Mick Kelley, and Ethan Lewis pitched in relief of Ohman. Lewis earned the win, his second of the season.
- Dauer added three RBI and leads the team with 13.
- Dossa extended his hit streak to nine games. He has hit .359 over that span.
Up Next
The Bulldogs will host Quinnipiac on Wednesday, March 19 at 3 p.m.