The Keydets concluded their regular-season slate with a 12‑7 loss to The Citadel at Lamore Field, dropping to 28‑26 overall and 3‑18 in the Southern Conference.
Power Surge from the Plate
Grayson Fitzwater launched his 21st home run of the year, while Cole Raile went 2‑for‑4 with a three‑run blast and added two runs, each driving in crucial RBIs that kept VMI within striking distance.
A Late Surge Falls Short
The Citadel built a 4‑0 lead early, extending it with a five‑run sixth inning and three more in the seventh to pull ahead 12‑3. VMI answered with four runs in the ninth, highlighted by a sacrifice fly from Bradley Garner and Raile’s 16th homer, but the rally stopped short of a comeback.
What’s Next for the Keydets
With the Southern Conference Championship looming on Wednesday morning at 9 a.m., VMI will look to translate its late‑game resilience into a matchup that could send them to a 4 p.m. showdown. A win would not only avenge the regular‑season defeat but also shift momentum heading into the next round.