LEXINGTON, Va. – VMI Baseball goes 2-0 on Opening Day after two run-rule victories over Delaware State Friday afternoon at Lamore Field at Gray-Minor Stadium.
It only took a total of 14 innings for the Keydets (2-0) to capture season-opening wins over the Hornets. VMI shut out Delaware State in game one, 10-0, before letting loose in game two with a monstrous 24-4 blowout. The Keydets have won their season-opening game for the second-straight year, a feat that hadn't been met since 2018-19.
Game 1 Key Stats
- VMI drove in 10 runs off nine hits and seven RBIs.
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Peyton Dhein pitched a gem, tossing six scoreless innings with five punchouts.
- Corner outfielders
Bradley Garner and
Cole Cook both went two-for-two with two doubles and two runs apiece.
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Cole Raile smashed the first homer of the season.
- The Keydets swiped four bags, including two from
Kazuya Jordan.
Game 1 Scoring Summary
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Ayden Schnarrs singled in the first run in the second inning.
- VMI took advantage of a pair of Delaware State miscues, scoring on two errors to make it 3-0.
- In the fourth inning, the Keydets drove in six runs, starting with a fielder's choice by Jordan, followed by a successful double steal by Jordan and Cook. A Fitzwater single and a Raile three-run shot to centerfield opened it up, 9-0.
- The mercy rule came into play after a sixth-inning sacrifice fly by Garner drove in the 10th Keydet, paired with a dominant scoreless inning by
Carson Taylor out of the bullpen.
Game 2 Key Stats
- VMI put up 24 runs off 20 RBI's and 12 hits.
- Once again,
Bradley Garner put on a masterclass performance, going three-for-four with two RBIs and three runs.
- The Keydets stole 10 bases, with
Kazuya Jordan leading the way with three steals.
- VMI batters were hit nine times, matching the single-game program record set in 2006.
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Cole Raile hammered his second home run of the season.
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Hunter Sipe gets the dub after shoving four near-perfect innings out of the stable, striking out a career-high eight and allowing just two hits and no runs.
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Owen Riley started the game and left after three strong innings with four strikeouts and one hit and run allowed.
- Jordan, Raile, and
Max Perry had three RBIs each.
Game 2 Scoring Summary
- VMI picked up where they left off in game one, scoring on a
Grayson Fitzwater single in the opening frame.
- However, the Hornets would tie it in the top half of the second.
- Perry scored on a wild pitch to regain the lead in the second inning.
- The Keydets poured on 14 runs in the third inning.
- Delaware State came back in the fourth and drove in three runs before Sipe entered the game and shut the offense down.
- VMI would go on to score eight unanswered runs, three in the fourth, two in the fifth, and three in the sixth, all while earning seven RBIs.
Next up for the Keydets
The Keydets play in another doubleheader Saturday against Delaware State. First pitch for game one is set for 1 p.m.
For more information, visit VMIKeydets.com or follow us on social media at VMI Athletics.
