RICHMOND, Va. – Although tied midway through the game, the VMI baseball team was unable to hold on in a 15-5 loss on the road against Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Tuesday night in non-conference action.
 
The Keydets found themselves down by four at the end of the second inning but came back to tie the game with two runs in the third and back-to-back home runs in the fourth inning. The Rams (23-14, 5-3 A10) responded with seven unanswered runs to secure the win.
 
VCU started the game with two runs in a bases loaded situation. A single by Liam Hibbits added two more scores to go up 4-0 at the end of two innings.
 
With the bases loaded and no outs at the top of the third, Trey Morgan hit a sacrifice fly to bring Cody Warner home. Cole Garrett was hit by pitch to set up a fielder's choice from Zac Morris for Will Knight to score. For the first time since May 17, 2019, the Keydets drilled back-to-back home runs with Cole Jenkins leading off the fourth inning with a home run, and Nathan Loyd lofting his own bomb to right field to tie the game 4-4.
 
VCU took back the lead with a run in the bottom of the fifth and added six more runs in the sixth. A single by Garrett plated Morgan in the seventh to help cut the deficit, however, the Rams responded with two more in the seventh on a two-run homer by Connor Hujsak.
 
Justin Starke reached base safely in all five of his plate appearances, recording a hit, three walks and a HBP. Callen Nuccio and Knight each had two hits on the night and five Keydets had an RBI (Morgan, Garrett, Morris, Jenkins, and Loyd).

Steven Carpenter finished 3-4 with a run and three RBI, with Michael Haydak adding another three RBI and two runs.
 
The Keydets (10-24, 6-12) will be back on the road for a weekend series against The Citadel with game one set for Friday at 5 p.m. and double header beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday. All games will be broadcast on ESPN+.