LEXINGTON, Va. (Interstat) — Grayson Fitzwater launched three home runs and drove in five runs, powering the Virginia Military Institute Keydets to a come-from-behind 10-7 victory over the Western Illinois Leathernecks in the first game of a doubleheader Friday at Gray–Minor Stadium.

The Keydets, who entered the game with a sterling record, overcame an early six-run deficit, with Fitzwater’s third homer tying the game in the seventh inning before Seth Buchanan’s three-run blast later in the frame completed the rally.

Western Illinois struck quickly against VMI starter Trace Monroe. Joe Connolly walked and scored on an Isaiah Monge single in the first inning. The Leathernecks then erupted for five runs in the second, capitalizing on a Keydet error. Krayton Morse reached on the miscue to score a run, Josh McClintock drove in another with a sacrifice groundout, and Wandel Campana was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in a third. Monroe was relieved by Andrew Jones, who escaped further damage but not before Western Illinois built a 7-1 lead.

The Keydets began chipping away. Fitzwater hit a solo homer in the first inning and an RBI double in the third. His two-run homer in the fifth inning, followed immediately by a solo shot from Bradley Garner, cut the deficit to 7-6 and chased Western Illinois starter Jason Buhl.

Buhl took a no-hitter into the fifth inning but ultimately was charged with five earned runs over 4 1/3 innings. His reliever, Billy Humphrey, kept the Keydets at bay temporarily but would later falter.

Fitzwater completed his historic day by leading off the bottom of the seventh with his third home run, a solo shot to left-center that knotted the game at 7-7. Garner then doubled, and after an out and an intentional walk to Ayden Schnarrs, Buchanan stepped up and delivered the decisive blow, a three-run homer to left field off Humphrey.

Tyler Bassett earned the win for VMI with two scoreless innings of relief, allowing just one hit. Jones settled in after the rough second, pitching 3 2/3 innings and striking out five. Humphrey took the loss for Western Illinois, surrendering five earned runs in 2 1/3 innings.

Morse provided the bulk of the Leathernecks’ offense with a three-run homer in the third inning. Western Illinois managed seven hits but left several runners on base after their early outburst.

The victory improved Virginia Military Institute’s record to 12-2, while Western Illinois fell to 3-9.

The most critical sequence of the game unfolded in the bottom of the seventh inning. After Fitzwater’s game-tying homer, the Keydets quickly put two more runners on base. Facing a one-out situation with first base open, Western Illinois opted to intentionally walk the hot-hitting Schnarrs to set up a potential double play. The strategy backfired when Buchanan, the next batter, connected on Humphrey’s pitch for a towering three-run home run, transforming a tied game into a decisive three-run lead that the bullpen would not relinquish. This calculated risk and its dramatic failure defined the game’s turning point.

The teams were scheduled to conclude the doubleheader later Friday.