LEXINGTON, Va. – VMI Baseball will have a busy week to open the month of April, starting with a home matchup against Longwood on Tuesday before hitting the road to Norfolk State on Wednesday.
 
Game Schedule and Probables
vs. Longwood | Tuesday | 6 p.m.
- RHP Roberto Velasquez (1-1, 6.23 ERA) vs. RHP Jake Chadwell (1-0, 8.66 ERA)
at Norfolk State | Wednesday | 3 p.m.
- TBA vs. TBA
 
The Keydets (17-11, 3-3 SoCon) look to take the season sweep over both the Lancers and Spartans this week. VMI's offense has been lights out lately, averaging nearly 10 runs per game and 12 hits per game in its last five outings.
 
Keys to the Keydets
A Kid Named Boston. Boston Torres was outstanding in his battle against the Spartans, landing him SoCon Player of the Week. Torres tallied seven hits and seven RBIs, going five-for-five with three RBIs and four runs on Saturday before smashing the game-tying three-run home run to set up the Keydets for a series-finale victory on Sunday. Torres homered in all three games against the Spartans.
 
Lloyd Express. Jaxon Lloyd picked up the win on Sunday, posting nine strikeouts.
 
Plate Perfectionists. Three Keydets were perfect at the plate against UNCG. Boston Torres went five-for-five while Ayden Schnarrs went four-for-four on Saturday before Owen Prince tallied four hits in four trips to the plate.
 
Offensive Surge. VMI's offense has been a powerhouse lately, averaging nearly 10 runs and 12 hits per game in its last five outings.
 
Midweek Majesties. Bradley Garner is dominant in midweek games, slashing .579/1.263/.600 with 11 hits, five doubles, one triple, and two homers to pair with 15 RBIs and seven runs. Right behind is Grayson Fitzwater who has produced eight hits, six RBIs, six runs, and a pair of doubles and long balls to produce a .421/.947/.520 slash. On the mound, Evan Parmer has been consistent in these matchups, throwing over 10 innings with 18 punchouts.
 
Dumbbell Raile. Cole Raile ranks number one in the nation with 46 runs and second with 1.64 runs per game. He has clobbered a team-leading nine home runs and has swiped 20 bags.
 
Torres It Up. Boston Torres leads the team and the conference with 45 RBIs which is sixth in the country. Torres has also shown he can get on base and score as he ranks in the top 15 in walks (29) and top five in runs (43).
 
Prince of Pain. Not only does he lead the team with 35 steals, but Owen Prince also leads the nation and league in steals and steals per game (1.25). Prince's 39 hits and 32 walks are also team bests. He's fifth in the NCAA in walks, 10th in walks per game (1.14), fifth in runs (43), and eighth in runs per game (1.54).
 
That's So B-Rad. Bradley Garner boasts a team- and SoCon-leading .398 batting clip and has earned at least one hit in eight of his last nine games. Garner also leads the squad with 12 multi-hit and multi-RBI games.
 
Plum Dog. Caden Plummer leads the team with a 4.10 ERA, 41 strikeouts, and four victories.
 
Season Streaks. Boston Torres enters the week with a 28-game on-base streak while Grayson Fitzwater boasts a 23-game on-base streak. Owen Prince holds the highest hitting streak on the team with six.

The Brand. VMI is the only team in the country to have 100+ stolen bases with 148 which is on pace to beat the national record of 333 steals set by Wichita State in 1982. The closest team is Wofford, which has 98. The Keydets average over five steals a game.
 
Runs Galore. VMI is one of two teams to score 300+ runs this season and is the only team with 11 runs per game. The Keydets have scored double-digit runs in 16 games with seven run-rule victories.
 
K Zone. VMI staffers have posted 238 strikeouts, boasting over nine strikeouts per nine innings.
 
Eagle Eyes. The Keydets have drawn a nation-leading 221 walks.
 
Plate Warriors. VMI is slashing .321/.530/.478, which all stand in the top 25 in the NCAA. The Keydets' .530 on-base clip is number one in the country.
 
Rub Some Dirt On It. The Keydets have been hit by 61 pitches, the 14th-most in the NCAA.
 
Small Ball. The Keydets are fourth in sacrifice flies (21) and sixth in sac bunts (26).
 
Record Book Watch. Grayson Fitzwater has the second-highest career fielding percentage with .988 while standing fourth in career slugging percentage with .597 and sixth in career home runs with 33. Owen Prince is just two steals away from breaking VMI's single-season record and is closing in on top five in career steals with 62 while standing second in career on-base percentage at .462.

Scouting the Opponents
- Longwood enters the week 8-20 overall with a 3-3 Big South record.
- Norfolk State goes into Wednesday with a 1-21 record and is 1-11 in NEC play.
- The Lancers have fallen in their last four matchups, while the Spartans have dropped five straight.
-  Longwood is slashing .249/.376/.380 with 51 doubles, eight triples, and 14 home runs to pair with 173 runs, 147 RBIs, and 135 walks.
- Norfolk State slashes .263/.466/.357 with 35 doubles, five triples, and 34 home runs to pair with 125 runs, 116 RBIs, and 92 walks.
-The Lancers' staff holds an 8.86 ERA with 195 strikeouts and 149 walks.
- The Spartans' pitchers have an 11.41 ERA with 165 strikeouts and 204 walks.
- Longwood has been hit by 55 pitches, the 26th most in the nation, and has stolen 76 bases, the seventh most.
- Longwood's James Nelson boasts a .361 batting clip with a team-leading 35 hits, 10 doubles, and 31 RBIs.
- Tre Keels ranks fifth nationally with 24 steals and leads the team with five home runs.
- Jake Chadwell is set to start for the Lancers after already making eight appearances and three starts, throwing 17.2 innings.
- For Norfolk State, Justin Journette has been a powerhouse at the plate, totaling 31 hits, nine homers, and 23 RBIs with a .352 batting average.
- Longwood Head Coach Ray Noe comes back to Gray-Minor Stadium after spending six seasons with the Keydets.
 
Series History
- VMI is 19-13 against Longwood and 26-2 against Norfolk State.
- The Keydets defeated both teams this season, taking down the Lancers on the road after sweeping the Spartans at home.
- VMI has won 10 times at home against Longwood and is 7-2 at Norfolk State.
- The Keydets are 4-1 in their last five matchups against both squads.
 
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