CULLOWHEE, N.C. – VMI Baseball earned its first Southern Conference victory of the 2025 campaign on Saturday after a nailbiter against Western Carolina at Hennon Stadium.
The Keydets (15-8, 1-1 SoCon) gained an early lead and never looked back against the Catamounts in a tight 5-4 win. With the triumph, VMI evens the series and its conference record heading into the rubber match.
Key Stats
- VMI put up five runs off eight hits with five RBIs.
- The Keydets drew three walks and stole four bases.
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Cole Raile recorded two extra-base hits with a double and three-run home run.
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Caden Plummer picks up his fourth win after tossing seven innings.
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Ryan Peterson went two for three with an RBI.
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Boston Torres drew one walk to extend his on-base streak to 23 games.
- Setting up the Keydets on the mound was
Andrew Jones who threw 1.2 scoreless innings.
- Closing the door was
Nathan Hawley who picked up his first save of the season.
- Eight of the nine Keydets in the lineup reached base safely.
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Grayson Fitzwater extends his hitting streak to nine games after hitting an RBI double.
Scoring Summary
- The Catamounts scored first off a home run in the opening frame.
- In the second inning, Peterson drove in
Owen Prince on an infield single.
- Raile slammed an opposite-field homer to give VMI a 4-1 advantage in the fifth inning.
- Western Carolina got one run back in the sixth off its second home run before VMI followed up with one run off a Fitzwater double.
- However, the Catamounts cut the deficit to one after their third long ball of the game in the seventh.
- Despite the late surge and the tying run sitting at third base, the Keydets' bullpen shut down the potential comeback without giving up a run in the ninth inning.
Next up for the Keydets
The Keydets face off against the Catamounts in the series finale on Sunday at Noon. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
For more information, visit VMIKeydets.com or follow us on social media at VMI Athletics.
