CITADEL AT VMI

LEXINGTON, Va. (Interstat) — The Citadel Bulldogs and the Virginia Military Institute Keydets meet Thursday afternoon at Gray-Minor Stadium in a Southern Conference matchup that could have postseason implications.

First pitch is set for 4 p.m. under cloudy skies with a temperature of 70 degrees.

The Bulldogs (27-24) come in having lost their last game Tuesday, 5-3 at Coastal Carolina. Right-hander Liam Foley threw two scoreless innings of relief in that game, striking out one and allowing no hits. Foley has been effective lately, posting a 0.00 ERA over his last three appearances spanning 3.2 innings, though he allowed three earned runs in 1.2 innings against UNC Greensboro on April 26. He is expected to be available out of the bullpen again.

The Keydets (28-23) are coming off a 15-5 win Tuesday against Norfolk State. Catcher Cole Raile led the way, going 4 for 5 with a home run and five RBIs. Raile has been hot at the plate, hitting .444 (12 for 27) over his last seven games with three homers and 15 RBIs. He also homered in consecutive games against High Point on April 26.

VMI has lost four of its last five, however, and is 3-7 over its last 10 games. The Keydets are coming off a three-game sweep at Mercer last weekend.

The Bulldogs have won four of their last five, including a series sweep at Presbyterian on May 1-3. They also beat South Carolina 4-0 on April 28.

A computer simulation from Interstat projects a 7-2 Citadel victory.

Both teams will remain in Lexington for a three-game series. The teams play again Friday and Saturday, both at Gray-Minor Stadium.

The Citadel’s pitching staff has been solid, with a 3.89 ERA over the last 10 games. VMI’s offense, led by Raile, has scored 30 runs over its last three games but has allowed 34 in that span.

The game is the first of a three-game set that will conclude the regular season for both clubs. The Bulldogs enter with a 12-11 conference record; VMI is 11-12 in league play.