LEXINGTON, Va. – VMI Baseball will begin its longest homestand on Friday against Norfolk State at Lamore Field at Gray-Minor Stadium.
 
Series Schedule and Probables
Game 1 | Friday at 3 p.m.
- RHP Caden Plummer (2-0, 0.75 ERA) vs. RHP Walker Fuller (0-2, 12.91 ERA)
Game 2 | Saturday at 2 p.m.
- RHP Andrew Jones (2-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. LHP Nathaniel Varnier (0-1, 9.82 ERA)
Game 3 | Sunday at 1 p.m.
- LHP Jaxon Lloyd (2-0, 0.90 ERA) vs. TBA
 
The Keydets (7-1) start a nine-game home swing with a three-game series against the Spartans. VMI has swept both season series thus far, outscoring those opponents, 98-18. The Keydets also look to keep their seven-game home winning streak alive.
 
Keys to the Keydets
VMI Suffers First Loss to #10 Virginia. The Keydets were handed their first loss of 2025 to nationally-ranked Virginia, 6-4.
 
The Stable. VMI's bullpen in the final four innings was flawless, allowing no runs and no hits against the Cavaliers.
 
Plum Dog. Caden Plummer was named SoCon Pitcher of the Week after a career-like start against the Eagles, going six innings, allowing no earned runs, and striking out 13, the most in a game since 2019.
 
Prince of Pain. Not only did Owen Prince match a single-game high with six stolen bases and five walks against Coppin State, but he now leads the country with 17 steals, third with 15 walks,  and fourth with 16 runs. He also ranks first in walks per game with nearly two, first in steals per game with two, and second in runs per game with two.
 
That's So B-Rad. Bradley Garner has had a stellar start to the season, boasting a .591 batting average and a .686 on-base percentage, the second and third highest in the NCAA, respectively.
 
The Best Boston. Boston Torres ranks third in sacrifice flies (3), fourth in doubles (6), and seventh in RBIs (18) in the nation. He also ranks in the top 20 in runs (14).
 
K Zone. VMI staffers have thrown 73 strikeouts and just 21 walks for a 3.48 K/BB ratio which is top-25 in the nation.
 
Fire Starters. VMI's series starters totaled 17 innings, no earned runs, and 30 punchouts.
 
Season Streaks. Boston Torres recorded at least one hit in his first seven games. He has also accumulated five multi-hit and multi-RBI games. Six Keydets have reached base safely in all eight games.
 
The Last Time. This is VMI's best start to a season since 2010 when the Keydets went 10-0, the longest winning streak in program history.
 
Runs Galore. VMI has scored 102 runs, the fourth most, and nearly 13 runs per game, the second most in the nation.
 
Eagle Eye. Keydet batters have been walked 83 times, the most in the country.
 
The Brand. VMI has swiped 68 bags and 8.50 steals per game, serving as the nation's leader in both categories. The top four individual stolen bases and steals per game leaders are all Keydets (Prince, Garner, Jordan, and Perry).
 
Keydets in the Outfield. VMI's top hitters are the starting outfielders: Boston Torres (.483), Owen Prince (.435), and Bradley Garner (.591). They also attest to 41 putouts with no errors.
 
Rub Some Dirt On It. Max Perry has shown his toughness as he has been hit by six pitches, the 22nd most in the country.
 
Andy's Game. Andrew Jones is 2-0 on the bump with 16 strikeouts and no earned runs.
 
One Hit Wonder. Jaxon Lloyd tossed a one-hitter in six innings with nine strikeouts on Sunday. This is the first time since 2014 VMI has allowed one hit or less.
 
Runnin' Raile and Firin' Fitz. 30 of VMI's 102 runs have come from Cole Raile and Grayson Fitzwater, each earning 15 apiece, tied for eighth in the country. Raile and Fitzwater also attest for nearly two runs per game, the seventh most in the NCAA.
 
Number 1. The Keydets ranked first among NCAA D-I programs in walks (83), on-base percentage (.535), sacrifice flies (13), stolen bases (68), and stolen bases per game (8.50).
 
Top 25 in the Nation. VMI ranks in the top 25 among the NCAA in batting average (.342), ERA (2.25), hit by pitches (24), runs (102), sacrifice bunts (8), scoring (12.8), shutouts (2), K/BB (3.48), and triples (4).
 
Fastest to 50. Head Coach Sam Roberts made history in 2024, becoming the fastest coach to reach 50 career wins. Roberts ranks fifth all-time in wins with 60.
 
Score More. Last season, VMI was 17-0 when scoring 10 or more runs in the regular season and is already 7-0 this season.

Scouting the Spartans
- Norfolk State enters the series 0-5 with their latest loss coming from Butler.
- The Spartans have been outscored 56-12.
- VMI will be Norfolk State's only SoCon opponent this year.
- Norfolk State holds a .208 batting average with 32 hits, eight doubles, one triple, and three home runs to pair with 13 walks and 12 RBIs.
- The Spartans hold a .331 slugging percentage and a .291 on-base percentage.
- Walker Fuller and Nathaniel Varnier are expected to start on the mound for Norfolk State. Fuller is 0-2 with a 12.91 ERA while Varnier holds a 0-1 record with a 9.82 ERA.
- As a team, the Spartans have a 9.21 ERA with 44 earned runs to pair with 41 strikeouts.
- In the field, Norfolk State has a .925 fielding percentage with 14 errors.
- Spartan catchers have caught six runners in 48 stolen base attempts.
- Jayden Israel leads the team with a .474 batting average, nine hits, and three runs. Israel enters the weekend with a five-game hitting streak.
- Jalen Jones has racked up five hits with two doubles and a .625 slugging percentage and a .313 batting average.
- Head Coach Keith Shumate is in his fifth season with the Spartans.
 
Series History
- VMI is 23-2 against Norfolk State.
- The Keydets are a perfect 16-0 when playing against the Spartans in Lexington, Virginia.
- Last season, VMI went 2-1 against Norfolk State and are 3-2 in their last five meetings.
 
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