MACON, Ga. - The VMI baseball team was shutout in game one of their doubleheader against Mercer at Claude Smith Field Saturday afternoon, 4-0, but used an eight-run second inning to take game two 12-4.

Game one featured Mercer (4-4) starting pitcher Brian Jones (2-0) holding the Keydets (1-3) to just three hits as he recorded the complete game shutout.

VMI starter Duke Acors (Richmond, Va. / Atlee) (0-1) was touched up early when Christian Grossman hit his second home run of the season in the second inning.

The Bears kept the offense going in the fourth inning when Roger Alvarez connected on an RBI single to put Mercer up 2-0. The Bears added two more runs in the eighth when pinch-hitter Josh Thompson doubled in a pair of runs to close out the Mercer scoring.

Game two was a different offensive story for the Keydets as eight different batters recorded at least one hit including designated hitter Jacoby Fields (Prince George, Va. / Prince George), who went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI's. First baseman Jon Wade (Marietta, Ga. / Harrison) also collected two hits in the contest including a double.

Fields highlighted VMI's eight-run second inning as he led off the frame with a double and then came around again in the order to belt a three-run homerun.

Shortstop Matt Smith (Chesapeake, Va. / Great Bridge) drove in the Keydets ninth run of the game in the third inning with an RBI single. Two innings later right fielder Elliott Erbe (Portsmouth, Va. / Western Branch) delivered a three-run home run in the fifth to put VMI up 12-3.

Keydet starter J.J. Hollenbeck (Vienna, Va. / James Madison) (1-0) allowed two earned runs in five innings to earn his first win of the year.

"I thought our kids fought really hard to stay focused offensively," VMI head baseball coach Marlin Ikenberry said. "After getting three hits in game one we put pressure on (Mercer) in the game two by putting up an eight spot early."

VMI and Mercer will square off Sunday afternoon for the third and final game of the series. The first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.

The Keydets will send Jimmy Thoms (Newport News, Va. / Denbigh) to the mound.

Saturday's doubleheader included the make-up game from Friday's rainout.

-VMI-