LEXINGTON, Va. – After splitting two mid-week games, the VMI baseball team will open Southern Conference play this weekend at Samford University (Ala.). The three-game series is set to begin Friday at 7 p.m. on Joe Lee Griffin Field.

The Keydets defeated VCU 4-1 on Tuesday before falling 12-2 to James Madison on Wednesday. Sophomore Ty Swaim laced a two-out, bases-loaded triple in the top of the ninth inning at VCU to clear the bases and proved to be the game-winning hit.

VMI got excellent pitching from four different players Tuesday. Ben Capehart got the start and allowed one run in his 2 1/3 innings. Tyler Kaltreider followed with 2 1/3 innings as well, scattering three hits and two walks. Will Riley threw 2 2/3 hitless innings with two walks and three strikeouts before giving way to Will Lopez. The southpaw was perfect in recording five outs to pick up his first win of the season.

Red-shirt junior Will Knight went 2-3 with a run and an RBI against JMU Wednesday. The left fielder is hitting .379 on the year, sixth in the conference. He also ranks second in the league in hits and tied for eighth in doubles.

Samford is 13-13 this year after losing 10-1 Tuesday at Alabama. The Bulldogs are the defending SoCon champions after defeating Western Carolina University in the title game last spring for the program's third conference crown.

The Saturday and Sunday matchups are set for 2 p.m. starts. The Bulldogs have won the last six matchups between the two schools.