LEXINGTON, Va. (Interstat) — Trace Monroe provided five innings of critical relief and Thomas Conrad delivered a two-run double during a decisive four-run seventh inning as the Virginia Military Institute Keydets pulled away from the Maryland-Eastern Shore Hawks for a 7-3 victory in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday at Gray–Minor Stadium.

The Keydets, who won their seventh straight game to improve to 7-1, overcame an early three-run deficit and a shaky start from their bullpen. The Hawks fell to 0-6, extending a difficult start to their season.

Maryland-Eastern Shore struck quickly against VMI starter Owen Riley, who failed to record an out. The left-hander walked the first three batters he faced, prompting an immediate call to the bullpen for Hunter Sipe. Sipe limited the damage, allowing only a sacrifice fly from J. Gonzalez that scored A. Carson, but the Hawks had established an early 3-0 lead.

VMI answered in the bottom half of the first when leadoff hitter Cole Cook launched a solo home run to left field. The Keydets then chipped away in the fourth. After M. Perry was hit by a pitch, stole second and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt, E. Ogle brought him home with a sacrifice fly to center, cutting the deficit to 3-2.

The game’s pivotal sequence began in the top of the fifth. With Clark Driscoll on in relief for VMI, Carson doubled. Driscoll was then replaced by Trace Monroe. Julian Jimenez greeted Monroe with an RBI single up the middle, restoring the Hawks’ two-run lead at 3-1. Monroe, however, settled in immediately, getting a strikeout and then benefiting from a caught stealing to end the threat. He would not allow another run.

VMI tied the game in the bottom of the fifth against Maryland-Eastern Shore starter Richard De Jesus, who had held the Keydets hitless through four innings. Grayson Fitzwater led off the frame with a solo homer to right field, making it 3-3.

Monroe’s work from the fifth inning onward proved to be the foundation for VMI’s comeback. He stifled the Hawks’ offense, allowing just three hits over his five-inning stint while striking out three. His performance provided stability and allowed the Keydet bats time to mount their winning rally.

That rally erupted in the bottom of the seventh against Hawks reliever E. Torres. O. Prince and Fitzwater were both hit by pitches, and after a strikeout, a balk moved both runners into scoring position. C. Raile walked to load the bases, and M. Perry worked another walk to force in Prince, giving VMI its first lead at 4-3.

Thomas Conrad, who had entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the sixth, then delivered the decisive blow. The designated hitter ripped a double down the left-field line, clearing the bases and driving in two runs. Conrad later scored on a wild pitch, capping the four-run inning and extending the Keydet lead to 7-3.

Monroe earned the win with his commanding relief effort. De Jesus took a hard-luck loss for the Hawks, surrendering three earned runs over five innings despite not allowing a hit until the fifth. VMI managed only five hits but capitalized on eight walks and three hit batters. Maryland-Eastern Shore out-hit the Keydets with seven hits, led by Julian Jimenez’s three-hit, one-RBI day, but stranded multiple runners.

The victory continued VMI’s dominant start to the season, while Maryland-Eastern Shore will look to snap its skid in the second game of the twin bill later Saturday.