The VMI Keydets entered the SoCon Tournament in Greenville, South Carolina, hoping to rebound after a slow start to the season, but they were met with a potent offense from The Citadel.
The game opened with The Citadel jumping to a 4-0 lead, and they extended that advantage to 7-1 by the end of the third inning, setting a tone that would prove difficult to shake.
VMI answered with a three-run burst in the fourth and another three in the fifth, tying the contest at 7-7 and sparking hope among the Keydet fans.
A Sixth-Inning Explosion
The Citadel’s sixth inning was a turning point, as they plated five runs to pull ahead 13-7, a lead they would not relinquish.
Gabe Jenkins, who had been a bright spot for VMI, answered with an inside-the-park home run in the seventh, driving in three runs and narrowing the gap, but the momentum had already shifted.
In the eighth, The Citadel unleashed seven runs, invoking the run-rule and sealing a 21-11 victory that left the Keydets with a 6-error night and a 12-hit effort that ultimately fell short.
Key performances came from Michael Gibson, who collected five hits and four RBI, and Phillips Daniels, who added three hits and five RBI, while Zach Hunt contributed two runs and three RBI for the hosts.
For VMI, Grayson Fitzwater, Gabe Jenkins, Seth Buchanan and Cole Cook each recorded two hits, but the team’s six errors and the sheer volume of hits allowed by six different pitchers proved costly.
The loss underscores the challenges VMI faces as they prepare for the remainder of the tournament, and it highlights the need for tighter defense and more consistent pitching against a disciplined Citadel squad.