LEXINGTON, Va. (Interstat) — Will Holmes struck out 10 over seven scoreless innings and TJ Anderson drove in four runs as Citadel defeated Virginia Military Institute 9-2 on Thursday afternoon at Gray-Minor Stadium.

The Bulldogs improved to 28-24, matching the Keydets’ record at 28-24. Citadel took control early, scoring a run in the first inning when Michael Gibson doubled to left center, scoring Anderson who had walked. The Bulldogs added two in the third on Jayden Williams’ two-run homer to center field, scoring Lane Tobin.

Citadel stretched the lead in the fourth. Zach Hunt singled, advanced to third on a bunt groundout and scored on Garrett Fulmer’s sacrifice fly to center. In the fifth, Anderson singled to center to bring home Tobin, who had been hit by a pitch and moved to second on a wild pitch.

The Bulldogs broke the game open in the sixth. Fulmer singled, Tobin doubled and Anderson delivered a two-run single to left center, scoring Fulmer and Tobin. Citadel added three more in the eighth. Sam Dansky led off with a single, moved to second on a groundout, advanced to third on another groundout and scored on a wild pitch. Tobin walked, stole second and scored on Anderson’s single to left field after a throwing error by the shortstop allowed Ayden Will to reach. Anderson stole second but was left stranded.

Holmes, making his third consecutive strong start after throwing seven shutout innings at Presbyterian on May 1 and six innings of two-run ball against Samford on May 8, dominated the Keydets. He allowed only two hits — a first-inning single by Owen Prince and a second-inning double by Ayden Schnarrs — while walking one and striking out 10. He faced the minimum through much of his outing, thanks to a double play in the first.

Virginia Military Institute finally broke through against reliever Zane Davis in the ninth. Seth Buchanan was hit by a pitch and Prince reached on an error. Bradley Garner singled to center to score Buchanan. After a flyout, Cole Raile’s sacrifice fly to center brought home Prince unearned. Schnarrs singled but Gabe Jenkins lined out to center to end the game.

Anderson finished 3-for-4 with four RBIs. Tobin went 2-for-3 with a walk, a hit by pitch and three runs. Gibson was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Justin Spiegel took the loss for the Keydets, allowing six hits and five earned runs in 4 1/3 innings while striking out six. Jim Douthat pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief.

The teams meet again Friday and Saturday at Gray-Minor Stadium to close the three-game series.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Citadel 7, Virginia Military Institute 2, and its ELO system gave the Bulldogs a 55.20 percent probability to win.