VMI returns to the field Monday, completing a four-game weekend by playing host to Bryant in a 4 p.m. contest.
Over the weekend, the Keydets completed their third weekend sweep of the season, this one coming at home against Maryland Eastern Shore. In the series, VMI scored 46 runs while allowing just nine, hitting .432 as a team.
When looking across Division I, VMI is one of just seven teams with as many as 10 wins already this season. The Keydets' current 10-game win streak is tied for the fourth-longest nationally, while the team's offense ranks fifth in the country with 11.3 runs scored per outing.
A look at VMI's statistical leaders shows some staggering numbers 10 games into the season. Junior Sam Roberts leads both VMI and the Big South Conference with five home runs, 23 RBIs, and 37 total bases, while ranking second in the league with a .902 slugging percentage. Graham Sullivan leads VMI with his .425 batting average while ranking third in the league with seven doubles, while sophomore hurler Adam Lopez leads the circuit with 21 strikeouts.
As a team, the Keydets lead the Big South in several offensive categories, including batting average (.382), slugging percentage (.655), runs scored (113), hits (143), RBIs (104), doubles (32), home runs (22) and total bases (245). The pitching staff, meanwhile, leads the way in strikeouts (96), fewest walks (24), strikeouts per nine innings (9.82), walks per nine innings (2.45) and strikeout to walk ratio (4.00).
Bryant enters today's contest still looking for its first win of the season. Two weekends ago, Bryant traveled to Nicholls State and dropped games against NSU, Houston Baptist and Tennessee Martin. This weekend, the Bulldogs fell 3-2 to UNC Asheville before losing 4-2 and 6-2 at Davidson. Today's contest marks the fourth game the Bulldogs will play during a seven-games-in-six-days road stretch. After taking on the Keydets, the Bulldogs continue on to Virginia Tech for two games before heading to West Virginia, as they will play five different teams at four venues in three states on this trip.
The Keydets will send redshirt sophomore Jason Farley (0-0) to the mound against the Bulldogs after the southpaw worked six innings against Maryland on Tuesday. In that start, Farley allowed two runs on four hits, but took a no decision as VMI won in 11 innings. He will face Bryant freshman right-hander Joe Michaud (0-1), who took the loss against Tennessee-Martin in his lone appearance this season.
