VMI Baseball will face Longwood University at Lamore Field at Gray-Minor Stadium on Tuesday, April 28, with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. Jackson Nash is set to start for the Keydets against Clark Driscoll of the Lancers.
The game comes as VMI seeks to end a six-game losing streak and avenge a recent defeat by Longwood. The Keydets currently hold a record of 26-17 overall and are looking to improve their conference standing.
Under head coach Sam Roberts, VMI has developed a reputation for aggressive base running, leading NCAA Division I in stolen bases over the past three seasons. This year, the team has already tallied 162 steals and holds top national rankings in both total steals and steals per game. Offensively, VMI boasts a .415 on-base percentage—30th nationally—and averages eight runs per game.
Several players have reached individual milestones this season. Owen Prince is one steal away from breaking the program’s career record and has reached base safely in all 43 games this year. Grayson Fitzwater leads the conference with 18 home runs and holds several school records including career home runs (59) and total bases (459). Catcher Cole Raile recently moved into seventh place in program history with his performance last weekend.
Longwood enters the contest with a similar overall record (26-18) and features strong pitching led by Jaxon Lloyd (5-2, 2.98 ERA). The Lancers have also shown speed on the base paths with over one hundred stolen bases this season under head coach Ray Noe—a former VMI assistant now in his second year at Longwood.
VMI leads the all-time series against Longwood but lost their most recent matchup last week by a score of 10-4. The Keydets will look to capitalize on early innings where they have scored nearly half their runs this season while continuing strong defensive performances late in games.
