ETTRICK, Va. – Virginia State dropped a pair of games to sixth-ranked Bluefield State in a doubleheader on Sunday at Whaley Colbert Field 10-3 and 1-0. 

GAME 1: BLU 10, VSU 3 

• Both teams would only get one man in scoring position in the first two innings, but couldn’t cash in on the opportunity 
• In the top of the third the Big Blue singled to second and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Two batters later a two out single up the middle would finally get a run across 
• Jamari Pooler would reach via the error with two outs. Pooler then stole second and Thomas Moore would walk the next pitch. Pooler would then steal third with Moore going to second on the throw down to third 
• Christian Henderson would then get on with another error by Bluefield State as both Pooler and Moore came around to score and Henderson would end up on second 
• Bluefield would then tie it in the top of the fourth and then would explode in the fifth hitting a grand slam and back-to-back solo shots to make it an 8-2 lead 
• The Big Blue would add two insurance runs in the top of the seventh. In the bottom half Gene Ligon, Jr. Came in to pinch hit and would walk and steal second. Daniel Smith then singled to get runners on the corners. Jimmyll Williams then walked to load the bases. Moore hit a sacrafice fly to get the last run across for VSU 

GAME 2: BLU 1, VSU 0 

• Joe Hasting got the start in game 2 and would strike out 10 batters but would give up 1 unearned run which was the difference 
• In the first inning BLU got a one out double down the left field line. That batter then would advance on a pass ball and a wild pitch to score 
• VSU would go down in order in the first and second innings. In the Third Norman Jackson singled up the middle and would end up on third after a sac bunt and advancing on a balk by the pitcher. Williams walked then stole second, but the Trojans were unable to get the runners across 
• In the fourth and fifth both teams went 1-2-3. The Big Blue had a golden chance in the top of the seventh as Hastings walked two batters and another singled with a bunt to load the passes, but he got a huge strike out to strand the runners 
• Moore got hit by the first pitch and would get to second on a sacrifice bunt by Dawsyn Hock and to third on a wild pitch. However, he would remain stranded as a ground out and a fly out would end the game 

Bluefield State is currently ranked sixth in the Black College Nines Small College poll.

The teams will play the last game of the three-game series on Monday March 25 at 1 pm. 

Story and image courtesy Virginia State University Athletics