LEXINGTON Va. – The VMI baseball team dropped the Southern Conference series opener Friday to visiting East Tennessee State University (ETSU) 7-4 from Gray-Minor Stadium. 

ETSU starter Nathanial Tate threw a complete game to earn the win, striking out 11 and giving up just four hits.   

How it happened: 
VMI got on the board first with two runs in the bottom of the third, one scoring on a Cole Garrett single. ETSU plated two runs each in the fifth and sixth innings and three in the ninth. VMI's Zac Morris belted a two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth but Tate closed out the game.  

Highlights: 
*Jimmy Koza drilled a double while Grayson Fitzwater had two walks
*Nathan Light got the start on the mound for VMI, working 4.2 innings and allowing just two earned runs
*Jack Thompson threw a scoreless inning of relief
*Noah Gent was 2-4 with a home run for ETSU (22-25/7-9)  

Next Time: 
VMI (24-25/8-10) and ETSU are scheduled to meet again Saturday at 2 p.m. for the second game of the three-game series. The Keydets' eight seniors will be honored in a pre-game ceremony.