LEXINGTON, Va. - Keydet freshmen Jacoby Fields (Prince George, Va. / Prince George), Sean Seawell (Spotsylvania, Va. / Spotsylvania) and Chad Rice (Grindstone, Pa. / Brownsville) combined to drive in seven runs in VMI's 9-4 victory over Norfolk State University Friday afternoon at Patchin Field.

After falling behind 1-0 in the top of the first inning, the Keydets (10-6) scored seven unanswered runs in four innings to help starter Duke Acors (Richmond, Va. / Atlee) (2-2) earn the victory.

"It was great to see Fields, Seawell and Rice all have big days for us and contribute," VMI baseball head coach Marlin Ikenberry said. "Duke Acors did a nice job pitching today and it was good to see our bullpen come in and put up zeros. Overall it was a great team effort."

VMI relievers Mike Anton (Clarksville, Md. / Riverhill), Jeff DeMara (Chesapeake, Va. / Great Bridge) and Will Paulette (Richmond, Va. / St. Christopher's) combined to allow no runs and just one hit in the game's final four innings.

Individually, Fields went 2-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI's, Seawell was 3-for-4 with a double and three RBI's while Rice was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI's.

Game two of the three series between VMI and NSU (6-10) is Saturday at Patchin Field. Game time is 1:00 p.m.

RHP J.J. Hollenbeck (2-1, 5.92) is scheduled to start for the Keydets with the Spartans countering with RHP Andy Renshaw (1-1, 4.50).


-VMI-