LEXINGTON, Va. – VMI Baseball travels to its final non-conference opponent of the season this weekend, visiting High Point for a three-game series at Williard Stadium.
 
Series Schedule and Probables
Game 1| Friday, April 24 at 7:30 p.m.
- RHP Wade Walton vs. RHP Justin Spiegel
Game 2 | Saturday, April 25 at 6 p.m.
- RHP Ty Brachbill vs. LHP Buddy Baker
Game 3 | Sunday, April 26 at 1 p.m.
- RHP Aidan Paul vs. TBA
 
The Keydets (26-14, 3-9 SoCon) compete in their final non-conference series of the year against the Panthers (26-14, 11-4 Big South). This is the first meeting between the teams since both schools were Big South affiliates together in 2014.
 
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 157 steals, with four steals per game, ranking first in steals and second in steals per game.
 
Getting On Base. The Keydets are no strangers to getting on base in more ways than one, boasting a .424 on-base clip that ranks in the top 20 nationally, but capitalizing on every opportunity has made them effective, averaging over eight runs a game with 328 total runs scored, both categories are top 50 in the country.
 
Magic No. 7. For VMI, the goal is to score at least seven runs. When VMI scores seven or more, they are a perfect 24-0.

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 one steal away from the 101 mark. Prince has also reached base safely in all 40 games, ranking fourth in program history for a single-season on-base streak.
 
Fitz Bomb. Grayson Fitzwater has homered in five of his eight games, totaling 17 long balls this season, the third-most home runs in VMI single-season history and just two shy of breaking the record that he set in 2024.
 
30. VMI is eyeing a 30-win season for the first time in 16 years. There have only been three seasons (2006, 2007, 2010) in which the Keydets have reached 30 wins.
 
Series Notes
Keydets Falter Against Lancers. VMI was defeated by Longwood to start its four-game road swing.
 
Bigger Than Baseball. It was a big week for Bradley Garner. The outfielder started all three games against the Catamounts over the weekend, then ran in the 2026 Boston Marathon for Team End ALZ and the Alzheimer's Association on Monday. After running over 26 miles, Garner returned to the lineup on Tuesday, recording a double against Longwood.
 
The Return Of Regal Spiegel. Justin Spiegel shone bright in his start against the Catamounts, throwing 6.1 innings with six punchouts and no earned runs. It was the longest start and the most strikeouts of his 2026 campaign.
 
Andy's World. Out of the bullpen, Andrew Jones delivered five no-run innings to help preserve a tied game against WCU on Sunday. In his last two appearances, Jones has allowed no runs and just three hits.
 
Crown Him. Grayson Fitzwater is looking for the home run crown this season, as he leads the conference with 17 home runs, which also ranks 13th in the country. He also leads the league and ranks in the top 25 nationally with 53 RBIs, .831 slugging clip, and 118 total bases. His slugging percentage actually stands in the top five in NCAA DI.
 
On-Base Junkies. While ranking in the top 25 nationally in on-base percentage, VMI has one player in the top 50 among DI players and three in the top 15 among SoCon players. Grayson Fitzwater leads the group with a stellar .505 on-base clip, good enough for 29th in the country, while Owen Prince, Ayden Schnarrs, and Cole Cook are among the top 15 in the league.
 
Super Streaky. Owen Prince has one of the longest active on-base streaks in D-I baseball. Prince, who has reached base safely in 49-straight games dating back to last season, is third on this list.
 
I Am Speed. All four of the SoCon's stolen base leaders are Keydets, with Prince leading the charge with 26, followed by Cole Cook with 23, Bradley Garner with 21, and Cole Raile with 19. Notably, Cole Raile is 19 for 19 on stolen base attempts and ranks second among DI catchers.
 
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 1.80 BB/9, 4.55 K-BB ratio, and a 1.07 WHIP, which all rank top 75 nationally and top three in the league. The lefty slinger leads the team with 50 strikeouts, 21 appearances, and 55.0 innings pitched. He also holds the second-lowest ERA among ERA-qualified SoCon staffers at 2.78.
 
Prince Of Pain. Leading the Keydets on the base path once again is Owen Prince, swiping a league-high 26 bags and ranking 16th nationally. His explosive abilities on the base path have not been for nothing, as Prince leads the team with 50 runs, the 21st most, and just north of one run per game, the 25th most in the country. The senior centerfielder has also been a challenge to strikeout, boasting an 11.5 toughest-to-strikeout margin that ranks 45th nationally. Notably, Prince moved into first in program history with a .990 career fielding percentage.
 
Freshmen Arms. Several freshmen are making a name for themselves. Buddy Baker boasts a 5-0 record with a pair of saves in 17 appearances. Trace Monroe, who is coming off two no-run innings against Longwood, is 4-0. Eli Tyndall has been a consistent option who provides long-term outings, pitching 40.2 innings in 15 appearances with a pair of victories.
 
Watch Out For Fitz'walk'er. Grayson Fitzwater's league-leading 39 walks rank in the top 20 nationally. In his career, Fitzwater has walked 134 times, now third all-time and just nine shy of tying the program record.
 
Multi Boys. Five Keydets have muscled 10+ multi-hit games, including Owen Prince (16), Grayson Fitzwater (17), Bradley Garner (14), Cole Cook (11), and Cole Raile (13). Grayson Fitzwater has the most multi-RBI outings with 16, while Cole Raile has 12.
 
A Keydet Sacrifice. Bradley Garner stands 14th nationally and first in the conference with six sacrifice flies.
 
Hurts So Good. Ayden Schnarrs has worn plenty of pitches, 20 total, to move into fourth in the VMI single-season record book. He ranks first in the conference and 12th nationally in hit by pitches. As a team, VMI has been hit by 92 pitches, the 10th most in the nation, second most in the league, and fifth most in program history.
 
Walk It Out. VMI ranks 20th in the country and second in the SoCon with 230 walks.
 
One Of One. Grayson Fitzwater looks to become the first Keydet to reach 200 RBIs and 200 runs in their career. Fitzwater is the only Keydet to hit the 200-RBI milestone and looks to become the second to reach 200 runs.
 
Scouting the Opponent
Overall. High Point has a 26-14 record, going 11-4 in Big South play. The Panthers have dropped their last two outings, but have won five straight series. HPU is also 14-5 at home.
 
Roster. The 2026 roster includes three graduate students, nine seniors, 14 juniors, eight sophomores, and five freshmen.
 
Offense. The Panthers are slashing .297/.496/.400 with 85 doubles, 10 triples, and 54 home runs to pair with 252 RBIs and 277 runs. HPU ranks in the top 50 nationally in doubles, home runs, and slugging percentage. Seojun Oh leads the program with a .371/.692/.469 split, boasting 12 home runs and 43 RBIs. He ranks first in the league with 76 total bases, RBIs, and slugging percentage.
 
Defense. HPU's defense promotes a .974 fielding percentage with 38 errors. The Panthers have turned 37 double plays while averaging nearly one per game, which both rank in the top 25 nationally.
 
Pitching. The Panthers' staff holds a 4.31 ERA with 326 strikeouts and 165 walks. Their ERA ranks 32nd in the country, with their four shutouts standing 11th best. One of the best in the league is Ty Brachbill, who boasts an 8-1 record and 3.84 ERA, earning two complete games with a shutout. Tyler Shafer and Dylan Story have combined for 10 saves.
 
The Probables. One of the best rotations in mid-major baseball - Wade Walton, Ty Brachbill, Aidan Paul - will each get their 11th starts.
 
Head Coach Joey Hammond. Joey Hammond was announced as the eighth head coach in HPU history in 2021. Hammond is a 2024 Big South Tournament Champion. During their postseason run, Hammond piloted his squad to a regional win over Vanderbilt and set a single-season wins record with 35 victories.
 
Series History
VMI is 17-15 all-time against High Point. The last meeting was in 2014, a 16-inning battle at High Point that sealed the series win for the Keydets. VMI is 9-9 when playing on the road against the Panthers.
 
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