BATON ROUGE, La. – The 2024 college baseball season got underway on Friday, as the VMI Keydets fell in a slugfest to the reigning National Champion LSU Tigers (11-8) before topping Central Arkansas in a pitchers' duel (3-1).
Cole Jenkins and Trey Morgan each had three hits and two runs apiece on the day, while Grayson Fitzwater led the Keydets with three RBI. Will Riley snags the first win of the season as eight VMI arms take the mound.
Game 1 – at No. 2 LSU – L, 8-11
- Eight Keydets record a hit, five register at least one RBI
- Cole Jenkins goes 2-for-4 with a homer run and a walk
- LSU scores three in the bottom of the 2nd, VMI responds with four in the top of the 3rd
- Tigers would take a 5-4 advantage, but the Keydets scored one in the 4th and 5th to regain the lead
- VMI avoids a jam in the bottom of the 5th, gets caught in one in the 6th as LSU doubles its run total (10-6 through six)
- The Keydets continued to fight, making it a two-run deficit in the 8th, but the second-ranked Tigers would tack on one run and close out the opener 11-8
Game 2 – vs. Central Arkansas – W, 3-1
- Seven Keydets record hits, with Fitzwater's two RBI proving to be the difference
- Will Riley goes 5 2/3, striking out six and allowing just one run
- Nathan Hawley, Evan Parker each fan two batters in relief
- The Bears would strike in the first inning, holding a 1-0 lead until the 4th
- In the 4th, Trey Morgan and Justin Starke reached base, as Fitzwater doubled to give the Keydets the lead
- An inning later, Jimmy Koza singled, stole second and eventually scored on a Ty Swaim ground out (3-1 VMI)
- Keydets close out the Bears, earning Will Riley the victory
What's on Deck
Saturday, Feb. 17 – vs. Central Arkansas - 7 p.m. EST – Listen – Live Stats
Sunday, Feb. 18 – vs. #2/#4 LSU - 2 p.m. EST – SECN+ -Radio – Live Stats
