LEXINGTON, Va. – VMI Baseball welcomes George Washington for a rematch on Tuesday afternoon at Lamore Field at Gray-Minor Stadium.
Game Schedule and Probables
Tuesday, April 7 - 5 p.m.
- RHP Jonas Aponick vs. LHP
Peyton Dhein
The Keydets (23-8, 2-4 SoCon) cap off their home stretch against the Revolutionaries (11-19). This is the final game of the home-and-home series, with VMI holding the 1-0 advantage after taking down GW in Arlington just a few weeks ago.
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 139 steals, with over four steals per game, ranking first nationally in both categories.
Stable Arms. The Keydets' staffers have limited their opponents' free-base pass, allowing 3.74 BB/9, which stands in the top 50 nationally.
Get On and Score. The Keydets are no strangers to getting on base, boasting a .435 on-base clip that ranks top 15 nationally, but capitalizing on every opportunity has made them effective, ranking in the top 20 nationally in runs per game (9.0) and runs (278).
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 two steals away from the 101 mark.
Super Streaky. Owen Prince has entered the top five all-time with a 14-game hitting streak and a 31-game on-base streak. A hit on Tuesday would move him up to fourth in both categories.
Recent Feuding. The head-to-head battle between these two programs has picked up in recent years, as the two sides have faced each other 10 times in the past 10 seasons. VMI has had the upper hand with six wins, gaining one in March on the road.
Game Notes
Keydets Walk Off Wofford To Salvage Series. VMI won the series finale against Wofford in walk-off fashion, getting an RBI from
Seth Buchanan and the game-winning run by
Bradley Garner in the 10th inning.
Non-Conference Success. The Keydets are 21-4 in non-league matchups. The offense is slashing .301/.505/.459, with VMI's arms tossing a 4.26 ERA in such games.
The Natural. Grayson Fitzwater ranks in the top 10 nationally with a .555 on-base clip and .876 slugging percentage. His .400 batting average stands tall at number 34 with his 12 homers at number 22 among D-I hitters.
Sipe Hunting. Hunter Sipe's non-conference outings have been phenomenal, posting a 1.46 ERA, 37 strikeouts, all while going 4-0 with a save in such games. This season, Sipe boasts a 0.62 BB/9 that ranks second, a 13.67 K-BB ratio that ranks fourth, and a 0.85 WHIP that ranks 15th nationally. All three categories are first in the SoCon. With 15 appearances, Sipe has made the 38th-most appearances among D-I slingers and the most in the SoCon.
Prince Of Pain. Leading the Keydets on the base path once again is
Owen Prince, swiping 25 bags and ranking third nationally. His explosive abilities on the base path have not been for nothing, as Prince leads the team with 46 runs and nearly two runs per game, both the fourth most in the country.
Buddy Ball. Freshman
Buddy Baker is a perfect 5-0 on the bump with a team-high two saves in 13 appearances, boasting a 0.92 WHIP and 2.18 ERA. His five victories are 27th nationally and the second most in the SoCon, while his two saves rank seventh in the league.
Watch Out For Fitz'walk'er. Grayson Fitzwater's league-leading 35 walks rank seventh in the country, just three behind the nation's leader. In his career, Fitzwater has walked 130 times, now third all-time.
Like A Thief In The Night. The top four base stealers in the league are Keydets, led by
Owen Prince with 25, followed by
Bradley Garner with 20,
Cole Raile with 19, and
Cole Cook with 18. Prince and Garner are two of 20 players in the country with 20+ steals.
Multi Boys. Four Keydets have muscled 10+ multi-hit games, including
Owen Prince (14),
Grayson Fitzwater (13),
Bradley Garner (10), and
Cole Cook (10).
Grayson Fitzwater has the most multi-RBI outings with 14, while
Cole Raile has 10.
A Keydet Sacrifice. Bradley Garner stands 12th nationally and first in the conference with five sacrifice flies, while
JW Kohlmeyer ranks 26th with six sacrifice bunts. Both marks are first in the SoCon.
Hurts So Good. Ayden Schnarrs has worn plenty of pitches, 18 total and nearly one per game to move into fifth 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 80 pitches, the fourth most in the nation, the most in the league, and fifth most in program history.
Walk It Out. VMI ranks 33rd in the country and second in the SoCon with 178 walks.
Magic No. 7. VMI is 21-0 when scoring at least seven runs.
Scouting the Opponent
Overall. George Washington is 11-19 overall with a 5-7 A-10 record. Last weekend, the Revs went 1-2 against conference foe St. Bonaventure on the road. GW has lost 11 of its 12 road contests this season.
Roster. The 2026 roster includes two graduate students, three seniors, 11 juniors, nine sophomores, and 11 freshmen.
Offense. The Revs are slashing .270/.402/.369 with 51 doubles, five triples, and 24 home runs to pair with 154 RBIs and 167 runs. GW has drawn 132 walks and has struck out 207 times.
Defense. In the field, the Revs have a .968 fielding clip with 35 errors. Despite the miscues, GW's defense is top-tier at turning two, ranking 12th nationally with 30 double plays, and averaging one per game, which ranks fifth in the country.
Pitching. GW's staffers hold a 6.39 ERA with 160 walks and 215 strikeouts.
The Probable. Jonas Aponick gets the nod to start the midweek tilt. This season, the right-hander holds a 10.45 ERA in nine appearances and 10.1 innings.
Coach Gregg Ritchie. GW alum and head coach Gregg Ritchie '86 is in his 14th season at the helm, earning over 300 victories as the skipper, the first 300-win coach in Revs baseball history. Ritchie has piloted his squad to 12-straight 20-win seasons.
Series History
VMI split last year's home-and-home matchup, defeating GW in Arlington in the last meeting. The earliest battle recorded was back in 1951, and has resulted in 22 victories for the Keydets since then. Earlier in the season, VMI went up to Arlington and took down GW, 8-5, on March 24.
For more information, visit VMIKeydets.com or follow us on social media at VMI Athletics.
