GREENVILLE, S.C. — A season-high 24 hits and a five-knock day from
Michael Gibson set the tone as fifth-seeded The Citadel (31-24) orchestrated a 21-11 run-rule victory over No. 8 VMI (28-27) in the first round of the 2026 Southern Conference Baseball Championship on Wednesday morning at Fluor Field.
Gibson made a significant impact with a season-high five hits -- including an early two-run homer -- along with five scored runs, also a season-best, for four RBIs. Gibson checks in as just the fifth player in SoCon Championship history to post a perfect 1.000 batting average, going 5-for-5 at the plate.
Phillips Daniels contributed with three hits and achieved a season-high total five RBIs as well.
TJ Anderson scored three runs on three hits and added two RBIs.
Sam Dansky hit a home run as part of his season-high three-hit performance while also crossing home plate on three occasions, good for his second consecutive game with scored three or more runs scored.
Zach Hunt hit his team-leading ninth home run of the season, and has now recorded two or more hits in three straight games.
Notably, the Bulldogs' 24 hits tie the record for the most hits in a postseason game since 2022. The Citadel's 21 run total marks the second time this season the Bulldogs have surpassed 20 runs in a single game, narrowly falling short of a 22-run win against UT-Martin on March 14, and also serves as the highest-ever run total for the Bulldogs in a Southern Conference Championship game, topping the previous best of 18 set when The Citadel scored 18 runs against Davidson in 1997.
On the mound,
Will Holmes pitched 4.0 innings, allowing six runs on five hits with five walks and three strikeouts.
Zane Davis followed with 2.0 innings of work, giving up one run on three hits, securing his third win of the season.
Ben Brash contributed one inning, surrendering three runs on two hits.
Liam Foley tossed 0.2 innings, allowing one run on two hits, and Gibson closed with a brief yet efficient appearance, striking out one batter in 0.1 inning en route to his eighth save of the season.
"Great win, we get to keep playing," head coach
Russell Triplett said. "Not how we would've scripted it, but I thought
Will Holmes battled. He didn't have his best stuff today, but his battle kept us in it. And then the offense, top to bottom, was tremendous. Good approach, good swings, executed the bunt game, executed well in situations, and when we did, guys got big two-out hits. That can't be scripted. We just must find a way to score more and get to play more."
Up next, No. 5 The Citadel takes on fourth-seeded Wofford on Wednesday, May 20, first pitch scheduled for 4 p.m.
