Celebration vs. Norfolk State
Randall K. Wolf / VMI

Baseball

Baseball Season Review

It was a record-breaking season for the Keydets, some of the noteworthy accomplishments include:

*The Keydets had 192 stolen bases to lead NCAA Division I, 26 ahead of the second-place team. VMI broke the Division I record for most stolen bases in an inning with nine in the second frame against Norfolk State University on March 19, breaking a mark that had been on the books since the 1993 season. The Keydets stole 14 bags total in that contest against NSU to snap the school record for stolen bases in a game.

*VMI finished its season fifth in the nation with a .322 batting average, 28th with 604 hits and 37th with 447 runs. The Keydets ranked 16th in doubles (134), 17th in slugging percentage (.529) and 25th in on base percentage (.409).

*VMI's SoCon winning percentage was the best for the team since 2018 and 26 total wins ties the 2018 squad. The Keydets earned the SoCon tournament's no. 5 seed, the highest for the program in five years.

*VMI tied the school record for the seventh-most wins in a single season in school history.

*Following the team's success this spring, first-year head coach Sam Roberts earned VMI's Distinguished Coaching Award.

*Two Keydets were named to national watch lists this spring; Zac Morris on the Brooks Wallace (SS) Award Watch List and Trey Morgan for the John Olerud Two-Way Player Watch List.

*VMI gained national recognition in just the second game of the season by rallying back from a 10-1 deficit to defeat Mississippi State, the 2021 National Champion, 14-13.

*Junior right fielder Cole Jenkins earned Perfect Game/Rawlings National Player of the Week honors on April 10, VMI's first national player of the week since 2018. Jenkins also was the SoCon Player of the Month for April, while Jenkins, Morris and Justin Starke were recognized as conference player of the week at various points during the season. Will Riley earned SoCon Pitcher of the Week accolades on April 17.

*Starke, Jenkins and Cole Garrett earned first-team All-SoCon honors while Morris, Morgan and Ty Swaim took home second-team accolades. Grayson Fitzwater and Jimmy Koza were also named to the all-freshman team.

*Starke earned VMI's Intercollegiate Athletic Award for the outstanding athlete among football, basketball, baseball, men's cross country/track & field teams. 

Numerous school records were set and other marks are now included in the program's all-time top 10. A brief summary of individuals and team performances now in the record books:

Individual Program Top 10s:

Justin Starke: Season – Runs (62, tied for first), total bases (141, third), hits (83, fourth), stolen bases (32, fourth), on-base percentage (.487, sixth), walks (39, tied for seventh), RBI (52, tied for seventh) and slugging percentage (.665, 8th).
Career – Batting average (.370, first), on base percentage (.465, first), slugging percentage (.602, third), runs (137, 10th).

Ty Swaim: Season – At bats (244, tied for first), stolen bases (35, second), hits (85, third), runs (57, fifth), doubles (20, sixth) and triples (4, tied for 10th).
Career: Stolen bases (51, eighth).

Cole Jenkins: Season – Doubles (tied for seventh, 19), total bases (130, seventh) and RBI (50, 10th).

Trey Morgan: Season – Hits (76, tied for ninth), stolen bases (26, tied for ninth).

Cole Garrett: Season – RBI (53, sixth), total chances (449, ninth).
Career: Fielding Percentage (tied for sixth, .986), total chances (1101, eighth), putouts (975, ninth).

Zac Morris: Career – Stolen bases (58, fifth), assists (416, eighth).

Will Riley: Season – Saves (6, tied for seventh).

Nathan Light: Career – Games started (39, sixth), appearances (81, seventh), innings pitched (255.2, eighth).

Team Season Program Top 10s:
Runs 447 (first)
Stolen Bases 192 (first)
Doubles 134 (first)
On base Percentage .409 (first)
Slugging percentage .529 (first)
Batting Average .322 (second)
Hits 604 (second)
Total Bases 992 (second)
RBI 388 (second)
Home Runs 74 (third)
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Players Mentioned

Cole Garrett

#27 Cole Garrett

C
6' 0"
Junior
R/R
Cole Jenkins

#9 Cole Jenkins

IF/OF
6' 3"
Junior
R/R
Nathan Light

#31 Nathan Light

LHP
6' 3"
Redshirt Senior
L/L
Trey Morgan

#1 Trey Morgan

LHP/OF
5' 10"
Redshirt Junior
L/L
Zac  Morris

#3 Zac Morris

MIF
5' 11"
Redshirt Junior
R/R
Will Riley

#24 Will Riley

RHP
6' 0"
Redshirt Sophomore
R/R
Justin Starke

#6 Justin Starke

3B/C
6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
R/R
Ty Swaim

#14 Ty Swaim

IF
5' 11"
Junior
R/R
Grayson Fitzwater

#20 Grayson Fitzwater

1B/OF
6' 1"
Freshman
L/L
Jimmy Koza

#11 Jimmy Koza

UT
5' 9"
Freshman
R/R

Players Mentioned

Cole Garrett

#27 Cole Garrett

6' 0"
Junior
R/R
C
Cole Jenkins

#9 Cole Jenkins

6' 3"
Junior
R/R
IF/OF
Nathan Light

#31 Nathan Light

6' 3"
Redshirt Senior
L/L
LHP
Trey Morgan

#1 Trey Morgan

5' 10"
Redshirt Junior
L/L
LHP/OF
Zac  Morris

#3 Zac Morris

5' 11"
Redshirt Junior
R/R
MIF
Will Riley

#24 Will Riley

6' 0"
Redshirt Sophomore
R/R
RHP
Justin Starke

#6 Justin Starke

6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
R/R
3B/C
Ty Swaim

#14 Ty Swaim

5' 11"
Junior
R/R
IF
Grayson Fitzwater

#20 Grayson Fitzwater

6' 1"
Freshman
L/L
1B/OF
Jimmy Koza

#11 Jimmy Koza

5' 9"
Freshman
R/R
UT