LEXINGTON, Va. – VMI Baseball comes back to Lamore Field at Gray-Minor Stadium for a three-game conference series against Western Carolina.
Series Schedule and Probables
Game 1| Friday, April 17 at 6 p.m.
- RHP Carter Burnette vs. RHP
Justin Spiegel
Game 2 | Saturday, April 18 at 2 p.m.
- LHP Davis Wright vs. LHP
Buddy Baker
Game 3 | Sunday, April 19 at 1 p.m.
- LHP Evan Myers vs. TBA
The Keydets (25-11, 2-7 SoCon) host the Catamounts (24-14, 6-3 SoCon) in a crucial home series, with both teams fighting for one of the coveted top four seeds in the upcoming Southern Conference Tournament in May. In addition to the weekend matchup, VMI Baseball will be handing out free BaseCo cards to all fans in attendance.
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 152 steals, with over four steals per game, ranking first nationally in both categories.
Fielding It Cleanly. VMI holds a .975 fielding clip, the second-best percentage in the conference, and would be the best single-season clip in program history.
Get On and Score. The Keydets are no strangers to getting on base in more ways than one, boasting a .428 on-base clip that ranks top 15 nationally, but capitalizing on every opportunity has made them effective, ranking in the top 30 nationally in runs per game (8.5) and runs (306).
What To Watch For
Record Breaker. 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 two steals away from the 101 mark. Prince has also reached base safely in all 36 games, ranking fourth in program history in the on-base streak category for a single season.
Home Sweet Home. The Keydets are 19-4 on their home turf. A win this weekend would make it just the sixth time VMI has won 20+ games at Gray-Minor Stadium and the first time since 2023.
Offensive Shootout. These two programs know how to score, with 10 of the last 12 matchups combining for over 10 total runs.
Series Notes
Keydets Get Back On Track. After getting swept by Samford last weekend, VMI returned to the win column after doubling up Norfolk State, 8-4.
25 Piece. VMI reached 25 wins for the fourth-straight season in the Roberts era. There has only been one instance where there have been four-straight 25-win seasons (2005-08).
Fitz Bomb. Grayson Fitzwater has homered in three of his last four outings and four times against league foes. Fitzwater's 15 home runs are ranked sixth in program history and just four shy of breaking the single-season record that he set in 2024. With his power surge lately, Fitzwater ranks third with a .841 slugging clip and 13th in home runs nationally.
Super Streaky. Owen Prince has one of the longest active on-base streaks in D-I baseball. Prince, who has reached base safely in 45-straight games going back to last season, is third on this list.
D-I Leaderboard. College Baseball Hub released two leaderboards that feature
Grayson Fitzwater. Fitzwater's 1.362 OPS (on-base plus slugging) ranks fourth, while his 55.76 wRC (weighted runs created) is second.
Leading The League. The Keydets have multiple statistical leaders in the SoCon.
Owen Prince leads the conference in runs and stolen bases, while
Grayson Fitzwater sits atop the league in home runs, walks, total bases, slugging percentage, and on-base percentage.
Ayden Schnarrs rounds out the offensive leaders in the hit-by-pitches category. On the mound,
Hunter Sipe has produced the fewest walks among ERA-qualified pitchers and has the best BB/9, K-BB ratio, and appearances. As a team, VMI still has the most shutouts and stolen bases.
I Am Speed. All five of the SoCon's stolen base leaders are Keydets, with Prince leading the charge with 25, followed by
Cole Cook and
Bradley Garner with 21 apiece,
Cole Raile with 19, and
Kazuya Jordan with 14.
Sipe Hunting. One of the best success stories this season has been
Hunter Sipe, who has stepped into a large bullpen role in 2026. Sipe boasts a 1.07 BB/9, 7.67 K-BB ratio, and a 0.93 WHIP, which all rank top 20 nationally and first in the league. The lefty slinger leads the team with 46 strikeouts, 18 appearances, and 50.2 innings pitched. He also holds the second-lowest ERA among qualified SoCon staffers.
Prince Of Pain. Leading the Keydets on the base path once again is
Owen Prince, swiping a league-high 25 bags and ranking 11th nationally. His explosive abilities on the base path have not been for nothing, as Prince leads the team with 47 runs, the 14th most, and just north of one run per game, the 16th most in the country. The senior centerfielder has also been a challenge to strikeout, boasting a 13.3 toughest-to-strikeout margin that ranks 25th nationally. Notably, Prince moved into first in progra history with a .990 career fielding percentage.
Buddy Ball. Sitting atop the team leaderboard in ERA, WHIP, and wins is
Buddy Baker. Baker, who has a 1.90 ERA and a 5-0 record, is set to make his second-career start on Saturday after making his first start on Tuesday against Norfolk State.
Watch Out For Fitz'walk'er. Grayson Fitzwater's league-leading 36 walks and one walk per game rank in the top 20 nationally. In his career, Fitzwater has walked 131 times, now third all-time.
Multi Boys. Five Keydets have muscled 10+ multi-hit games, including
Owen Prince (14),
Grayson Fitzwater (15),
Bradley Garner (13),
Cole Cook (11), and
Cole Raile (11).
Grayson Fitzwater has the most multi-RBI outings with 14, while
Cole Raile has 11.
A Keydet Sacrifice. Bradley Garner stands 10th nationally and first in the conference with six sacrifice flies.
Hurts So Good. Ayden Schnarrs has worn plenty of pitches, 20 total and nearly one per game to move into fourth in the single-season record book. He ranks first in the conference and seventh nationally in both categories. As a team, VMI has been hit by 86 pitches, the seventh most in the nation, second most in the league, and fifth most in program history.
Walk It Out. VMI ranks 23rd in the country and second in the SoCon with 211 walks.
Magic No. 7. VMI is 23-0 when scoring at least seven runs.
Scouting the Opponent
Overall. Western Carolina enters the weekend at 24-14 overall, with a 6-3 league record that is good enough for third in the SoCon. The Catamounts took two of three from Samford at home, dropped a series at The Citadel, then swept Mercer in Cullowhee. WCU has won four straight games after run-ruling Appalachian State on Tuesday.
Roster. The 2026 roster includes one graduate student, two fifth years, five seniors, eight juniors, 16 sophomores, and 12 freshmen.
Offense. The Catamounts are slashing .286/.474/.393 with 73 doubles, four triples, and 52 home runs to pair with 261 RBIs and 284 runs. They rank in the top 50 nationally in home runs and home runs per game.
Defense. In the field, WCU holds a .972 fielding percentage with 39 errors. The Catamounts have turned 31 double plays, the 29th most in the nation.
Pitching. As a team, WCU's staff has a 5.60 ERA with 284 strikeouts and 117 walks. The Catamounts rank 10th nationally with a 3.24 B/9 mark and are top 50 with a 2.43 K-BB ratio. WCU has tallied three shutouts. The Catamounts have pitched the most innings in the SoCon and have allowed the most home runs. WCU's top arm has been Mason Snyder, a multi-SoCon Pitcher of the Week recipient, who boasts a sub-one ERA with four wins in 15 appearances.
The Probables. The Catamounts turn to Carter Burnette, Davis Wright, and Evan Myers as the weekend rotation. As a collective, the trio holds a 7-6 record.
Head Coach Alan Beck. Returning to his alma mater for his fourth season is Alan Beck, who was named the 11th coach in program history in 2022. A four-year letter winner at WCU, he was a three-time All-SoCon selection and the 2003 SoCon Player of the Year. Beck was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 16th round.
Series History
VMI is 28-73 all-time against WCU. Last year, the Keydets took two of three from the Catamounts in Cullowhee, a massive series win in the conference opener, but WCU got the best of VMI in the SoCon Championship, earning a 15-1 victory in the opening round. The last time WCU was in town, the Catamounts came away with a pair of victories. The series has been split in recent seasons, with VMI holding a 5-4 record against WCU in the last three series.
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