BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – VMI Baseball (12-13, 0-3 SoCon) ended its first Southern Conference series of 2024 with a heartbreaking 5-4 loss to Samford University (16-7, 3-0 SoCon) Sunday afternoon at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
 
The Keydets held a 4-0 lead going into the bottom of the seventh inning until the Bulldogs' bats got hot late and ended the game on a walk-off home run.
 
Key Stats
- Nathan Hawley tossed a solid five innings, allowing just three hits and striking out three
- Grayson Fitzwater led the Keydets offensively with a pair of hits and two RBI
- Justin Starke and Trey Morgan each scored twice to account for the VMI runs
- Keydets' batters forced five walks at the plate

Scoring Summary
- VMI notched the first four runs of the game in the first two innings
- Owen Prince secured the first RBI after forcing in a run after getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded
- Keydets use small ball to their advantage with Ty Swaim recording a sacrifice bunt to score Justin Starke in the first inning
- Keeping the scoring going in the second, Grayson Fitzwater doubled down the right field line to score a pair
- Samford developed some late life in the seventh inning, knocking in a pair of runs to cut VMI's lead in half, 4-2
- In the bottom half of the ninth, the league's top batter hit a three-run, walk-off home run to take the series
 
Next Up for the Keydets
- Keydets continue the road swing on Tuesday at George Mason
- First pitch is set for 3 p.m.
- Broadcast will be live on ESPN+
- Patriots lead the all-time series, 4-10, dating back to 1982
- VMI and George Mason have played twice since 2016 with each earning a win