VMI Baseball: Samford takes opener with Keydets, 13-4

In a game that featured five home runs, visiting Samford defeated the VMI baseball team 13-4 in a Southern Conference game Friday evening.

VMI got on the scoreboard in the third inning, senior catcher Ryan Smoot singled with one out and junior Ryan Hatten followed with a two-run home run to left field for a 2-0 Keydet lead.

The Bulldogs answered with seven runs in the top of the fourth. Jordan Fucci hit a grand slam and Connor Burns had a three-run shot. Anthony DiChiara hit a two-run home run in the sixth to push the score to 9-2 and Samford added two more each in the seventh and eighth frames.

Sophomore Cody Warner hit a two-run blast to right-center field in the bottom of the ninth to score Nathan Loyd.

Smoot reached base in all four of his plate appearances, with two singles, a walk and a hit by pitch. Warner also walked on the evening and Callen Nuccio and Josh Hollifield had hits. Seth Nichols and Matt Keane each threw hitless innings of relief for VMI (5-21/1-3 SoCon).

Samuel Strickland settled down after a rocky start to earn the victory for Samford (18-7/4-0 SoCon). He worked seven innings, allowing four hits, three walks and two runs while striking out seven. Brooks Carlson went 4-4 with a walk.

The same two teams will meet tomorrow at 2 p.m.