Workstation - Bat File to start multiple Virtual Machines

I am currently using the following bat file to start multiple virtual machines:

     start ""/b "C:\Users\Abe\Desktop\Virtual machine 1.lnk"

     start ""/b "C:\Users\Abe\Desktop\Virtual machine 2.lnk"

My problem is that this start each machine in is own instance of VMware.  Is there any way to build a script (.bat or otherwise) that will start the virtual machines in a single instance of VMware Workstation.

Regards and thanks in advance

k