LEXINGTON, Va. (Interstat) — The Virginia Military Institute baseball team erupted for nine runs in the first inning and cruised to a 14-4 victory over Maryland-Eastern Shore in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday at Gray–Minor Stadium.

The offensive onslaught by the Keydets began immediately against Hawks starter Cade Champey. After a leadoff strikeout, VMI sent 14 batters to the plate in the bottom of the first, capitalizing on a combination of timely hitting and wildness from the Maryland-Eastern Shore pitching staff. The inning featured five hits, six walks and a hit batter. Bradley Garner, Seth Buchanan and Thomas Conrad each delivered two-run hits in the frame, with Garner’s single and Buchanan’s double down the right-field line highlighting the barrage. The Hawks were forced to make a pitching change before the inning concluded, bringing in Ethan Benton.

The most important part of the game was VMI’s immediate and overwhelming response after Maryland-Eastern Shore had taken an early lead without a hit in the top of the first. The Hawks’ leadoff man, A. Carson, walked, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a passed ball for a 1-0 edge. That advantage was short-lived, as VMI’s nine-run bottom of the inning effectively decided the contest before many fans had settled into their seats.

Maryland-Eastern Shore showed brief life in the top of the second, scoring three runs on four hits, including an RBI double from Christian Azcona and run-scoring singles from J. Rodriguez and D. Guerrero. That cut the deficit to 9-4 and chased VMI starter A. Jones, but reliever Buddy Baker entered and struck out J. Jimenez to strand the bases loaded.

Baker, named the top star for VMI, stifled any hope of a Hawks comeback. He worked 3 2/3 innings of relief, allowing just two hits and one earned run while striking out six. His performance stabilized the game for the Keydets after the chaotic early innings.

VMI continued to apply pressure, adding four more runs in the second inning and one in the third to extend the lead to 14-4. Garner finished the day 3 for 5 with four RBIs, while Buchanan was 2 for 3 with two RBIs. Cole Cook walked three times, drove in a run and scored twice.

For the Hawks, who managed nine hits, Azcona went 2 for 3 with an RBI and Jonathan Gonzalez Perez hit a solo home run to left-center field in the fifth inning. Maryland-Eastern Shore reliever Cade Williams provided a bright spot with three scoreless innings of hitless relief, striking out four.

The loss extended Maryland-Eastern Shore’s season-opening skid to 0-6, while Virginia Military Institute improved to 7-1. The teams met for the second game of the doubleheader later Saturday.

According to Interstat’s ELO system, VMI entered the game with an 87.60 percent probability to win.