CENTREVILLE, Mass. - VMI senior Jordan Ballard took home yet another accolade Tuesday, becoming the first Keydet to earn Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Baseball Player of the Week honors.

Ballard (Troy, Va./Monticello) joined Rutgers outfielder Pat Biserta as co-Player of the Week after hitting six home runs in five games for VMI.  The first baseman hit .571 with 14 RBIs on the week, driving in at least four runs on three separate occasions.  On Monday, Ballard became VMI's first-ever Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week while also earning his second career Big South Player of the Week honor.

At 14-1, VMI is off to its best start in program history.  After earning just the third national ranking in program history, the #30 Keydets also moved up two spots on Southeastern Baseball's Top 25 "Mid-Major" teams in the region.  VMI was ranked 18th last week and moved up to 16th this week in the rankings that includes the top programs in the Southeast not affiliated with the SEC, ACC or Conference USA.

The Keydets return to action Tuesday evening, taking on military rivals The Citadel.  First pitch is set for 6 p.m. from Riley Park in Charleston, and fans can listen to the game on the VMI Sports Network, available at www.VMIKeydets.com and locally in Lexington on WREL 1450 AM.  Fans can also watch the game on the Bulldog Insider, available at www.CitadelSports.com. 

The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) is the nation's largest athletic conference and only multi-divisional conference, with approximately 300 member institutions ranging across 16 states from Maine to North Carolina and westerly to Illinois.  Established in 1938 with 58 charter members, the ECAC has since emerged as the nationwide leader in service.