ETTRICK, Va. – After claiming the series win with two victories on Saturday, Virginia State dropped the third game in the three-game series against Lincoln University 18-8 on Sunday afternoon.

The Lions managed to get runners on the second and third in the first but were left stranded by a strikeout by Thomas Ealey. VSU managed to get a runner to second in the bottom half, but he was left there as well. The Trojans struck first after Victor Johnson was hit by a pitch. Jashua Mahan then bunted him over to second and a fly ball got him to third. Marquis Smith then singled to shortstop to bring Johnson home. However, in the top of the third the Lions scored six runs on three hits and two VSU errors to take command.

LUPA added three more runs in the top of the fourth. In the bottom portion of the frame Jaquan Tucker and Norman Jackson both singled through the left side. Hector Rivera then hit a two out single up the middle to score Tucker making it 9-2. The Lions continued to add runs in the fifth and sixth while VSU was kept off the board making it 13-2. LUPA added two more runs in the eighth before VSU offense exploded in the bottom of the inning. TJ McGowan started off with a single then advanced on a pass ball. Tucker then traded places with him as he doubled into the right center field gap. Jaden Guthrie then pinch hit and singled past the third baseman. Johnson then singled up the middle to bring home Tucker which was followed by an Erik Romero single up the middle to clear the bases. Jaron Ward, who came in as a defensive replacement, singled through the left side to bring home Romero, making it 15-8. Lincoln added three more runs in the top of the ninth and shut down the Trojans 1-2-3 in the bottom half.

Story courtesy VSU Athletics; Image courtesy Nakhii Young