Preview: Western Illinois at Virginia Military Institute

LEXINGTON, Va. (Interstat) — The surging Virginia Military Institute Keydets, off to one of their best starts in recent seasons, host the struggling Western Illinois Leathernecks on Friday in the opener of a three-game series and a doubleheader.

First pitch for Game 1 is scheduled for March 6 at Gray-Minor Stadium.

The Keydets (10-2) enter with significant momentum, having won seven of their last eight games. Their offense has been potent, scoring 10 or more runs in five games this season, including a 24-run outburst against Delaware State on Feb. 14. In their most recent outing, a 7-0 win over Stonehill on Sunday, starter Roberto Velasquez was dominant, pitching 7 1/3 scoreless innings with four strikeouts.

Velasquez, a player to watch for VMI, has allowed no earned runs over his last 9 1/3 innings of work across two appearances.

Western Illinois (3-7) seeks consistency after a rocky start. The Leathernecks snapped a three-game skid with a 3-2 road win at Saint Louis on Tuesday. Relief pitcher Eric Rawlings was instrumental in that victory, throwing three perfect innings with four strikeouts. Rawlings, however, has been volatile this season, surrendering seven earned runs in just 2 1/3 innings across two appearances prior to his stellar outing against Saint Louis.

The Leathernecks’ offense will look to build on Liam Bushey’s recent power; he hit a home run in the Saint Louis win.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 7-3 victory for the home-standing Keydets.

The series continues with the second game of Friday’s doubleheader, followed by a single game Saturday and Sunday.