VMI Baseball will travel to Birmingham, Alabama, for a three-game Southern Conference series against Samford at Joe Lee Griffin Field, beginning Friday, April 10.
The matchup is important as both teams hold identical conference records of 2-4. The Keydets enter the weekend with a strong overall record of 24-8 and are looking to secure their first road win in Birmingham since 2022. A victory would also mark the first time since the mid-2000s that VMI has achieved four consecutive seasons with at least 25 wins.
Game one on Friday will feature right-handed pitcher Joseph Lee for VMI against Justin Spiegel for Samford. Saturday’s contest sees Mason Blasche take the mound versus Roberto Velasquez, while Sunday’s starter for VMI is Noah Berry with Samford’s pitcher yet to be announced.
Under head coach Sam Roberts, VMI has developed a reputation for aggressive base running and leads NCAA Division I in stolen bases this season with 141. The team also boasts a .974 fielding percentage and ranks among the national leaders in runs per game and on-base percentage. Owen Prince stands out as he approaches the program’s career stolen base record; he is just two steals away from reaching 101 and has reached base safely in all games this season.
Grayson Fitzwater leads both nationally and within the conference in several offensive categories including home runs, RBIs, walks, and on-base percentage. Pitcher Hunter Sipe has recorded some of the best walk rates among qualified pitchers nationally and leads his conference peers in several pitching metrics. Freshman Buddy Baker remains undefeated on the mound with five wins this year.
Samford enters play with an overall record of 14-17 after being picked as preseason favorites by league coaches. The Bulldogs’ roster includes players across all class years; their offense is highlighted by a .285 batting average and ranks high nationally in home runs. Defensively they lead their league with a .983 fielding percentage but have struggled somewhat on the mound with a team earned run average above six.
Historically, Samford holds an advantage over VMI winning seven of their last nine meetings; however, VMI aims to change that trend during this crucial road series.
