Trojans Drop Pair to D1 VMI

VSU

LEXINGTON, Va. – Playing against Division 1 opponent Virginia Military Institute for the first time in program history, the Virginia State University baseball team was swept in a doubleheader 16-2 in game 1 and 15-7 in game 2. VSU held the lead or was tied with VMI for most of game 2. 

GAME 1: VMI 16, VSU 2 

  • The Trojans went down in order in the top of the first, while the Keydets only managed a walk in their half 
  • VMI managed to get runners on second and third after a single and a walk followed by a double steal in their half of the second, however Preston Branzelle managed to get a strikeout and a lineout to escape the jam 
  • VMI managed to get on the board in the third after a one out single followed by a double to right center on the very next pitch. A HBP and a double steal set up the Keydets with runners in scoring position with still one out 
  • A sac fly scored the second run of the inning with VMI still having a runner on third who scored on a wild pitch on the next pitch 
  • Three straight walks loaded the bases for the Keydets but Jaquan Tucker came into pitch and on his first pitch he got an out on a fielder’s choice limiting the damage to 3-0 after three innings 
  • Jimmyll Wiliams would get the first hit for VSU with a hard hit single to center. Christian Henderson hit a sacrifice and got Williams to second who then stole third. TJ McGowan took the first pitch he saw straight up the middle to get the Trojans on the board 
  • After a walk to open the fourth, VMI hit a towering shot to left center for a homer making it 5-1. Then a single, steal of second and a ground out got a runner on third with just one out. Following a hit by pitch a single up the middle allowed two more runs to come across to score. After was all said and done Keydets put up 6 runs in the fourth 
  • Thomas Moore hit a one out triple, followed by Victor Johnson HBP and then Jody Morris walked to load the bases however VMi was able to get the last two outs after a pitching change 
  • VMI hit a leadoff triple, but McGowan managed to get the next two batters out before hitting the next batter. The Kaydets then managed to score on a double steal to get their 10th run. The next batter struck out but got on bass via a throwing error which let the man on second score. Then the next batter took the first pitch he saw to right field for a homer 
  • In the sixth Tucker hit a two out doubled followed by a single by Jamari Pooler to put runners on the corners. Moore than walked to load the bases and Johnson walked in a run, in the bottom of the inning VMI hit yet another homerun to make it 16-2 which would be the final score 

GAME 2: VMI 15, VSU 7

  • Williams was hit by the second pitch of the game, and he managed to steal second. Henderson then hit a single to shallow center to advance Williams to third. Mcgowan hit a single to score Williams. Both McGowan and Henderson advanced on a wild pitch to get both in scoring position.  Pooler the doubled to right center to score two more runs 
  • VMI managed to get runners in scoring position after a sacrifice bunt then a sac fly would get the Keydets on the board then a wild pitch cleared the bases as the score sat at 3-2 VSU 
  • Each team managed to hit a single in the second inning 
  • In the third Dawsyn was hit by the pitch and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Avante Banks hit a two out single up the middle to put runners on first and third. In the bottom half of the inning Gavin Stevens had a 1-2-3 inning 
  • Daniel Smith continued the Trojans hot bats doubling to right field. Matthew May laid down a bunt and a throwing error by the catcher let May get to second and Smith to score, making it 4-2. May got to third after Williams flied out to right field. Henderson then hit a deep sac fly to bring May in to score 
  • Back-to-back two out singles for VMI would give the Keydets their best opportunity for a run since the first inning, however Stevens recorded his first strikeout of the game 
  • In the bottom of the fifth, VMI managed to get runners on the corners after a HBP, a walk and two wild pitches. A double gave VMI their first run since the first inning and still had runners on second and third. A wild pitch after a pitching change let the runners move up 90 feet to make it 5-4. The Trojans traded a double play for a run that tied the game at 5 
  • The bottom of the sixth saw VMI plate two more runs, before in the top of the seventh David Johnson hit a double to left center to plate Justis Crawley and Banks 
  • In the bottom of the inning the Keydets used a two out rally to score three for a 10-7 advantage 
  • VMI started to put the game out of reach as they added five runs in the eighth inning making it 15-7 

With the two losses VSU drops to 9-17 while VMI goes above .500 at 16-15. The Trojans will play at Barton on Wednesday, April 3 at 3 pm. 

Story and image courtesy VSU Athletics