LEXINGTON, Va. – After one of the most successful seasons in recent memory, the VMI Baseball Team is set to run it back for 2024, opening its season with a Friday doubleheader in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Keydets will face the defending national champion LSU at 3 p.m., followed by a game against Central Arkansas at 8 p.m.

VMI will play Central Arkansas Saturday, before closing out the weekend Sunday against host LSU.

Game Schedule
Friday, Feb. 16 – at #2/#4 LSU – 3 p.m. EST – SECN+ - Radio – Live Stats – Probables: Trey Morgan vs. Thatcher Hurd
Friday, Feb. 16 – vs.  Central Arkansas – 8 p.m. EST – Live Stats – Probables – Will Riley vs. Jesse Barker
Saturday, Feb. 17 – vs. Central Arkansas 7 p.m. EST – Live Stats
Sunday, Feb. 18 – vs. #2/#4 LSU - 2 p.m. EST – SECN+ -Radio – Live Stats

A Look at Last Year
- Led the NCAA in stolen bases (192), setting NCAA record for most stolen bases in an inning (9, vs. Norfolk State)
- Batting average of .322 ranked 5^th nationally, 16^th in doubles (134), 17^th in slugging (.529), 25^th in on-base percentage (.409) and 28^th in hits (604)
- Best SoCon winning percentage (.450) since 2018, matching the total wins for that season with 26
- Sam Roberts earns VMI Distinguished Coaching Award after first season
- Justin Starke, Cole Jenkins, Cole Garrett earn First Team All-SoCon honors
- Trey Morgan, Ty Swaim named Second Team; Grayson Fitzwater, Jimmy Koza get All-Freshman nods

Preseason Recognition
- Justin Starke becomes the program's first ever SoCon Preseason Player of the Year, hitting .392 and finishing in the top 10 in the league in nine different offensive categories in 2023
- Garrett, Jenkins and Morgan all get First Team recognition, while Swaim was named Preseason Second Team
- The Keydets were picked to finish 7^th in the league (voted on by the coaches)

Scouting the National Champs
- Ranked No. 2 in USA Today Coaches Poll, No. 4 by D1Baseball.com despite being slated to finish second in SEC Western Division and second overall
- 2023 National Championship was sixth in program history finishing with a 53-17 record
- The Tigers had a program-record 13 players taken in the 2023 MLB Draft, including the No. 1 and No. 2 overalls pick in Paul Skenes (SP) and Dylan Crews (OF)
- Tommy White (3B, First Team) and Hayden Travinski (Util/DH, Second Team) were named Preseason All-SEC
- A 2023 First Team All-American (.374, 24 home runs), White was named the top third baseman in college baseball by D1 Baseball

Scouting Central Arkansas
-  Posted a 23-31 record last season, going 14-16 in the Atlantic Sun
- Right-handed pitcher Jesse Barker leads the Bears' rotation, coming off a season in which he was 7-4 tossing three complete games and 109 strikeouts, earning First Team All-ASUN Honors
- While Connor Flagg (.341) moved on, the Central Arkansas offense will be led by Reid Bowman (.297) and Drew Sturgeon (.296)
- The Bears are guided by manager Nick Harlan, who is entering his third season at the helm