LEXINGTON, Va. – VMI Baseball opens the 2026 campaign at Lamore Field at Gray-Minor Stadium against Delaware State this weekend.
 
Series Schedule and Probables
Game 1 | Friday, February 13 - 1 p.m.
- RHP Michael Lane vs. LHP Peyton Dhein
Game 2 | Friday, February 13 - 4 p.m.
- LHP Eddie Del Valle vs. RHP Owen Riley
Game 3 | Saturday, February 14 - 1 p.m.
- LHP Jeremy Vest vs. RHP Andrew Jones
Game 4 | Saturday, February 14 - 4 p.m.
- RHP Nathan Vidmar vs. TBA
 
The Keydets look to build off their success, eclipsing 25 wins in each of their last three seasons under head coach Sam Roberts. VMI has notable faces returning to the lineup, with heavy experience at all positions. With inclement weather coming to Southwestern Virginia, Sunday's game has been moved to Friday, making Opening Day a doubleheader.
 
Keys to the Keydets
Run Fast, Turn Left. VMI's identity in the Sam Roberts era has been speed on the base paths. The Keydets have claimed the NCAA Division I stolen base crown three-straight seasons, including a program-record 209 steals in 2025.
 
Experience. Seven of the nine Keydets in last year's lineup return, bringing hefty experience to an already stacked roster.
 
Score Early & Often. In 2025, VMI scored 10+ runs 24 times, winning 22 of those games. In games in which VMI scored first, they went 14-7.
 
Eye of the Tiger. The easiest way to get on base for the Keydets has been walks, ranking in the top 15 nationally and first in the league.

What To Watch For
Record Book. A few Keydets are making their way up in the record book, including Grayson Fitzwater, who ranks first in RBIs (159), third in home runs (41), fourth in slugging percentage (.595), and 10th in walks (95). The powerhouse lefty is just six home runs shy of breaking the all-time record.
 
100. Head Coach Sam Roberts has accumulated 80 victories at the helm and is closing in on the 100-win milestone. Roberts has earned 25 or more wins in all three seasons, all ranking in the top 10 in season wins in program history.
 
Opening Day. Last season, VMI swept Maryland Eastern Shore to open the campaign. The Keydets have not won a season-opener in back-to-back years since 2018-19, when VMI stunned No. 19 South Carolina (2018) then defeated St. Joe's (2019).
 
Game Notes
2025 Recap. VMI's season was a roller coaster, starting the season 7-0 and improving to 11-1 for the best start since 2010. For the third straight season, Roberts piloted his squad to 25 or more wins, the first time the Keydets have earned 25+ wins in three straight years since 2006-08. With a 27-26 record, the Keydets earned a winning record for the first time since 2014, with 27 victories being the fifth-most in franchise history.
 
High Octane Offense. The Keydets' offense was on a tear throughout the 2025 season, scoring double digits in 24 games, with nine run-rule victories. VMI closed out the year ranked sixth nationally in scoring by averaging nine runs per game, while being in the top 25 in total runs among all D-I schools with a program-record 491 runs. The Keydets came up clutch as well, tallying four walk-offs.
 
The Fastest Show on Turf. The Runnin' Roos earned a three-peat title in stolen bases with 209, shattering the program's previous record, and would go on to lead the SoCon in six statistical categories – walks, on-base percentage, sacrifice flies, steals, steals per game, and scoring – and break six program single-season records – on-base percentage, steals, walks, runs, RBIs, and strikeouts per nine innings.
 
Three Keydets Receive Honors. Grayson Fitzwater has become a household name among several media outlets and the league office, being named SoCon Preseason Player of the Year by the league's coaches and D1Baseball. This is just the second time in program history a Keydets has been dubbed Preseason MVP. Fitzwater was also voted first-team All-SoCon for the second-straight season. Joining the first baseman on the first-team was Bradley Garner. Owen Prince was voted to the second-team for the second-straight season.
 
Perfect Game All-Conference. Bradley Garner was dubbed Perfect Game Preseason Player of the Year among SoCon players. Grayson Fitzwater and Owen Prince were also named to the All-SoCon list.
 
D1Baseball Rankings. D1Baseball released its lists for the top positional players in baseball. Landing 12th in this year's preseason poll for first basemen was Grayson Fitzwater, with Bradley Garner and Owen Prince going 24th and 51st, respectively, among outfielders.
 
Prince of Pain. Owen Prince highlighted the Keydets' success on the base paths, setting a new VMI single-season record of 46 steals, and led the country until the final weekend of the regular season. Prince finished the year ranked number two in stolen bases in NCAA DI. The stolen base king also produced at the dish, leading the team with 82 hits, just the fifth Keydet to eclipse 80 hits.
 
B-Rad Gets the Batting Title. Earning the batting title was Bradley Garner, who led the team and conference with a .389 batting clip, ranking 30th in the country. Garner also tallied a team-high .672 slugging percentage and 20 doubles.
 
Scouting the Opponent
Overall. Delaware State closed out 2025 with seven wins, with six in conference play.
 
Roster. The 2026 roster includes one graduate student, three seniors, six juniors, 11 sophomores, and 14 freshmen.
 
Offense. The Hornets slashed .259/.347/.352 in 2025, totaling 333 hits, with 187 runs and 168 RBIs. Leading the charge was Hassan Turner, who boasted a .306 batting clip, with 48 hits.
 
Defense. Delaware State had a .933 fielding clip, which was second to last among all NCAA Division I teams.
 
Pitching. Returning to the rotation is Michael Lane, the projected Opening Day starter, who held a 2.52 ERA in seven games, earning one win in the process. The stable was ranked 15th nationally with 110 hit batters.
 
National Rankings. Delaware State was ranked in the bottom 10 among NCAA D-I programs in 18 of the 31 statistical categories.
 
Coach Pedro Swann. In his second season at the helm, Pedro Swann returns to the dugout as head coach. The former Hornet spent time at Maryland Eastern Shore after his professional baseball career ended. Swann had a 17-year career, spending three seasons in the MLB with the Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles.
 
Series History
This will be the first matchup between the two programs.
 
For more information, visit VMIKeydets.com or follow us on social media at VMI Athletics.