LEXINGTON, Va. – VMI Baseball continues its road trip this weekend in the Southern Conference-opening series against East Tennessee State at Thomas Stadium in Johnson City, Tennessee.
 
Series Schedule and Probables
Game 1 | Friday, March 27 – 11 a.m.
- LHP Tadan Bell vs. LHP Peyton Dhein
Game 2 | Saturday, March 28- 2 p.m.
- RHP Michael Harpster vs. RHP Roberto Velasquez
Game 3 | Sunday, March 29 - 1 p.m.
- RHP Cooper Jones vs. TBA
 
For the 10th consecutive season, the Keydets (20-4) start the SoCon schedule on the road, this time against the reigning SoCon Champion Buccaneers (17-6) for a three-game series. Due to heavy rain approaching the area on Friday, first pitch for the series opener will be moved up to 11 a.m.



 
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. This season, VMI has 119 steals, with nearly five steals per game, ranking first nationally in both categories.
 
The Long Ball. VMI has hit at least one home run in 11 of its last 13 games, totaling 19 home runs in that stretch. The Keydets have homered in all but five games this season.
 
Get On and Score. The Keydets are no strangers to being able to get on base, boasting a .458 on-base clip that is top 10 nationally, but they have been capitalizing on every opportunity that has made them effective, ranking ninth in runs per game (9.8) and 12th in total runs (235) among all D-I programs.

What To Watch For
Prince of Stolen Bases. Owen Prince stole the spotlight last year by setting the single-season stolen base record midway through the season. This year, Prince is eyeing the career stolen base record and is just six steals away from the 101 mark.
 
Elite Company. Grayson Fitzwater is nearing one of the greatest feats in program history: the 200/50/50 club. Fitzwater is just seven RBIs from the 200 milestone. He has already captured 51 career doubles and 50 home runs, and would become the first Keydet to ever hit all three marks. He holds the career record in homers and RBIs.
 
It's All Here. Heading into league play, VMI is looking to build off of last year's results against a loaded conference schedule. After winning last year's first conference series, it marked the first time the Keydets had won their SoCon series opener since 2003.
 
Series Notes
Keydets Walk Past Revs In Road Test. VMI used four bases-loaded walks and key offensive at-bats to defeat George Washington in its midweek contest.
 
Mr. 100. Head Coach Sam Roberts earned his 100th career victory, becoming the fourth skipper to reach the feat and the fastest coach to hit the milestone in program history.
 
20 Piece. VMI reached 20 wins for the fourth-straight season in the Roberts era. The Keydets are one of 16 teams in D-I to have 20+ wins.
 
Mid-Majors' Finest. Mid-Major D1 Baseball ranked Grayson Fitzwater as the best first baseman among mid-major programs. Cole Raile rounded out as the fifth-best catcher. Fitzwater was ranked seventh among all D-I first basemen, while Raile checked in at 23rd among all D-I catchers.
 
Watch Out For Fitz'walk'er. Grayson Fitzwater's league-leading 30 walks rank fourth in the country, just four behind the nation's leader. In his career, Fitzwater has walked 125 times, now fourth all-time.
 
Sipe Hunting. Hunter Sipe has been rolling in his senior campaign, holding a 4-0 record and one save in 12 appearances and 33 innings. Sipe boasts a 1.36 ERA, the lowest among qualifying SoCon pitchers and 22nd nationally, with a team-leading 34 strikeouts. He has only given up an earned run in three outings. Sipe's 0.73 WHIP is ranked ninth, and his 0.82 BB/9 and 11.33 K/BB ratios are 13th nationally, with all three marks first in the league.
 
Prince of Pain. Leading the Keydets on the base path once again is Owen Prince, swiping 21 bags and ranking fifth nationally, just four behind the leader. His explosive abilities on the base path have not been for nothing, as Prince leads the team with 40 runs and nearly two runs per game, the second most in the country. Prince has been one of the toughest batters to strike out, with just seven strikeouts in 84 at-bats for a 12.0 Toughest-To-Strikeout margin.
 
G Fitty Rakes. Grayson Fitzwater has been slugging in March, helping build his .900 slugging clip, which ranks fifth in the country. Fitzwater also ranks in the top 25 nationally with 34 RBIs and a .566 on-base percentage.
 
Like A Thief In The Night. The top four base stealers in the league are Keydets, led by Owen Prince with 21, followed by Bradley Garner with 20, Cole Raile with 16, and Cole Cook with 15. Prince and Garner are two of seven players in the country with 20+ steals.
 
Multi Boys. Owen Prince is the only Keydets with 10 multi-hit and multi-RBI games. Grayson Fitzwater has 10 multi-hit outings.
 
A Keydet Sacrifice. JW Kohlmeyer ranks ninth with six sacrifice bunts, while Bradley Garner stands 21st with four sacrifice flies. Both marks are first in the SoCon.
 
Super Streaky. Owen Prince has reached base safely in all 24 games. Cole Raile leads the team with a nine-game hitting streak.
 
Hurts So Good. Ayden Schnarrs has worn plenty of pitches, 13 total and nearly one per game. He ranks second in the conference and 12th nationally in hit by pitches. As a team, VMI has been hit by 69 pitches, the second most in the nation.
 
Walk It Out. VMI ranks 13th in the country and second in the SoCon with 155 walks.
Double Up. VMI has been taking two recently, ranking in the top 25 nationally with 55 doubles and two doubles per game.
 
Buddy Ball. Freshman lefthander Buddy Baker is 4-0 on the bump with a team-high two saves in 10 appearances, boasting a 0.82 WHIP and 1.84 ERA. His four victories are 26th nationally and the third most in the SoCon, while his two saves rank fifth in the league.
 
Leading The League. VMI's staff leads the league with four shutouts, while giving up a league-low 18 home runs.
 
Magic No. 7. VMI is 19-0 when scoring at least seven runs.
 
Scouting the Opponent
Overall. ETSU is 17-6 overall with a 2-1 SoCon record. The Bucs have won their last three, including a series win over UNC Greensboro and a midweek matchup against Virginia Tech. This will be ETSU's first home conference series of the season.
 
Roster. The 2026 roster includes eight seniors, 12 juniors, seven sophomores, and 10 freshmen.
 
Offense. The Bucs offense slashes .318/.524/.433 with 51 doubles, four triples, and 34 homers to pair with 200 RBIs and 211 runs. ETSU ranks in the top 25 nationally in batting average, on-base percentage, runs per game, and slugging percentage. Tristan Curless has been a tank, bashing 11 home runs and 35 RBIs,  both top 15 in the nation.
 
Defense. In the field, the Bucs have a .977 fielding clip with 18 errors.
 
Pitching. ETSU has a 4.10 ERA, walking 93 and striking out 186. Leading the way is Preseason All-SoCon righty Michael Harpster, tallying a 3-1 record and 3.94 ERA in six starts.
 
The Probables. ETSU gives the nod to Tadan Bell, Michael Harpster, and Cooper Jones for the weekend slate. The three Bucs have a combined 7-3 record with 73 punchouts.
 
Coach Joe Pennucci. Coming off his best season yet, Joe Pennucci pilots the ship once again for his ninth season. Pennucci was named 2025 SoCon Coach of the Year after leading the Bucs to SoCon regular season and tournament titles. His 41 wins in 2025 were the second most in program history. Pennucci is two wins shy of the 250 milestone.
 
Series History
VMI is 47-70 all-time against ETSU, going 22-38 in Johnson City. The Bucs have handled the Keydets in the last seven meetings. In last season's series, ETSU bested VMI in all three games. The Keydets eye their first win at ETSU since March 2021.
 
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