VMI Baseball will return to Lamore Field at Gray-Minor Stadium for a three-game series against Western Carolina, beginning April 17. The Keydets, holding a 25-11 overall record and a 2-7 mark in the Southern Conference, are set to face the Catamounts (24-14, 6-3 SoCon) as both teams compete for top seeds in the upcoming conference tournament.
This home series is significant as it could impact tournament seeding. VMI will also distribute free BaseCo card packs to fans attending the games while supplies last.
The Keydets have built their recent success on speed and defense under head coach Sam Roberts. The team leads NCAA Division I with over four stolen bases per game this season and has set program records in steals over the past three years. Their .975 fielding percentage is currently second-best in the conference and would be an all-time high for VMI if maintained through season’s end.
Owen Prince stands out as he approaches VMI’s career stolen base record; he needs just two more steals to reach 101. Prince has reached base safely in every game this season—a streak that ranks fourth all-time at VMI—and leads the team with 47 runs scored. Grayson Fitzwater continues his power surge with 15 home runs this year, ranking sixth in program history and just four shy of his own single-season record set in 2024.
On the mound, Hunter Sipe has emerged as a key bullpen contributor with top marks nationally and within the league for walks allowed per nine innings (1.07), strikeout-to-walk ratio (7.67), appearances (18), and WHIP (0.93). Buddy Baker leads VMI pitchers with a 1.90 ERA and an undefeated record entering Saturday’s scheduled start.
Western Carolina brings a strong offense into Lexington, ranking among national leaders in home runs while posting a .286 batting average as a team. Defensively, they hold a .972 fielding percentage but have allowed more home runs than any other staff in their conference so far this season.
The historical matchup between these programs favors WCU overall (73 wins to VMI’s 28), though recent seasons have seen competitive play—including last year when VMI took two of three games during regular-season action before falling to WCU in postseason play.
