LEXINGTON, Va. – The VMI baseball team opened home Southern Conference play Friday by outscoring UNC Greensboro (UNCG) 16-11 in Gray-Minor Stadium in game one of a three-game series.

Red-shirt junior Justin Starke went 4-4 to improve the Keydet record to 15-12 overall and 2-2 in SoCon action.

The teams combined for 27 runs and 31 hits.

How it happened:
UNCG opened a 10-9 lead in the top of the sixth after scoring two in the fourth, three in the fifth and two in the sixth. VMI tied the game in the sixth and opened a 13-11 lead with three runs in the seventh. The Keydets tacked on three insurance runs in the eighth frame and Will Riley closed out the game to earn his fourth save of the year.

Highlights:
*Starke had three singles, a double and a walk and scored four times with three stolen bases
*Grayson Fitzwater went 3-4 with a home run, three runs and two RBI
*Cole Garrett left the yard and had two hits, two walks and four RBI
*Brett Cook also homered and finished 2-4 with two runs and two RBI
*Ty Swaim and Trey Morgan each had two hits and a walk
*Zac Morris doubled and drew two walks
*Zack Budzik went 3-6 with a home run and four RBI for the Spartans (13-13/2-2)

Next Time:
The two teams are slated to meet Saturday at 2 p.m.