Month: April 2025

MACU Takes Extra Innings to Slip Past VSU

ETTRICK, Va. – Jack Valachovic singled in RJ Cabrera for the winning run in the 12th inning as Mid-Atlantic took down Virginia State 8-6 Friday afternoon in NSAC action.

The Mustangs, ranked third in the latest USCAA baseball poll, scored in the first inning then sat the Trojans down in order in the bottom half. In the second VSU started with Jaquan Tucker getting Hit by Pitch, then Erik Romero hit a one out double. Hector Rivera then hit a single to bring in Tucker. MACU started the third with back-to-back singles to get runners on the corners. The next batter then hit an RBI groundout. In the bottom half, Thomas Ealey hit a one out single then advanced to second. TJ McGowan then doubled to tie the game at 2.

MACU added another run in the fourth before VSU answered with Victor Johnson starting with a single in the bottom half. Romero followed with a single of his own ,and Rivera hit the third straight single to load the bases. David Johnson then pinch hit and hit a single to bring in two runs. Ealey hit a triple to get Rivera home. The Mustangs continued to answer putting up three runs in the fifth to lead 6-5. Both pitching staffs would shut down the offenses until the bottom of the ninth. Rivera started with a double, Norman Jackson then hit a pinch-hit single which brought in the tying run. In the bottom of the tenth, the Trojans had an opportunity to win the game after getting a runner to second with two outs, but he was left stranded. MACU then took advantage in the 12th inning putting up two runs, first Cabrera and then Darris Boswell. In the bottom half, Romero hit a double but was left stranded there.

With the loss VSU drops to 9-21 overall and will be back in action tomorrow Saturday April 19 against Mid-Atlantic Christian for an NSAC doubleheader and Senior Day. Senior Day is scheduled for 12:30 and first pitch at 1 p.m.

Story courtesy Virginia State Athletics

Dominant Pitching Performances Help Trojans Sweep Makos

ETTRICK, Va. – Virginia State used two dominant pitching performances to sweep Lighthouse Christian 6-3 in game one and 4-1 in game two of a Wednesday NSAC doubleheader.

GAME 1 VSU 6 LCC 3

Lighthouse managed to score three runs in the first while keeping the Trojans off the board for the first two innings.

In the third TJ McGowan was Hit by Pitch then Victor Johnson singled to the shortstop. Norman Jackson then singled to right field which allowed McGowan to score.

Then in the fourth inning the Trojans loaded the bases with no outs, Jaden Guthrie then singled and McGowan was HBP. Johnson hit a double down the right field line, Norman Jackson hit into a fielder’s choice allowing five runs to come across to score in the inning.

Charles Jones settled down after the first inning, only allowing one hit in the final six innings. He finished with four strikeouts and earned his first win of the season.

GAME 2 VSU 4 LCC 1

DeCarlos Nora III got the start on the mound in game two. He used a double play to get out of the inning.

In the bottom half Thomas Ealey started with a single, followed by a Guthrie double to third. McGowan the hit an RBI ground out then Johnson hit a single to left.

Then in the fourth inning Johnson started the inning with a homer to left field. Erik Romero then got on via an error, stole second and Hector Rivera doubled to bring him home

Nora III took a no hitter into the fifth inning, and with two outs in the fifth, the Makos got their first hit.

Then in the sixth LCC managed to score a run, then Nora only allowed one hit and used a double play to win his first career game.

Virginia State now improves to 9-20 overall and will be back in action Friday April 18 against Mid-Atlantic Christian for a nine-inning game at 3 p.m.

Story courtesy Virginia State Athletics; image courtesy Chris Waugaman/Waugtography

Branzelle Tosses Complete Game Shutout in Game One; Trojans Split Twin Bill vs Makos

ETTRICK, Va. – Preston Branzelle pitched a complete game four hit shutout in game one to win 7-0 before the Virginia State University Baseball team dropped game two 6-0 against Lighthouse Christian College.

GAME 1 VSU 7 LCC 0

Thomas Ealey started the game with a double to left field, Jaden Guthrie then singled to center to put runners on the corners. TJ McGowan then walked on a wild pitch which brought in Ealey. Jaquan Tucker then grounded out to short but brought Guthrie in to score. Another wild pitch would allow McGown to score making it 3-0

In the second Erik Romero singled to left then on a failed pickoff attempt he moved up to third. Ealey then hit a sacrifice fly on the next pitch to bring him home

In the third inning VSU got runners on second and third with one out. Norman Jackson then grounded out to second to bring home a run

Branzelle continued his strong performance on the mound but in the fourth inning LCC managed to get two runners on but were left stranded after a strikeout

In the sixth the Trojans added two insurance runs after Matthew May got on via an error then advanced to third. Romero then walked and Marquis Smith was Hit by Pitch to load the bases. Ealey then collected two more RBI’s after a single through the left side

Branzelle collected his third win on the season after striking out nine and not allowing a walk

Game 2 VSU 0 LCC 6

The Makos managed to score three runs in the first inning and two more in the third

LCC scored one more run in the top of the fifth

After a Guthrie double in the first inning the Trojans wouldn’t have another scoring opportunity until the seventh. Caden Willis-Sagers singled through the left side, Julius Turner doubled down the right field line to get runners on second and third with one out.

The Trojans now sit at 7-20 overall and will be back in action tomorrow April 16 against Lighthouse for another double header at 1 p.m.

Story courtesy Virginia State Athletics; Image courtesy Chris Waugaman

Collado, Langley Named Baseball POWs

Two Mid-Atlantic Christian University Mustangs have been honored as the NSAC Baseball Players of the Week.

Senior Josiah Collado from Canton, Georgia had a large week at the plate going 8-of-14 (.571 BA) with 5 doubles and 7 RBIs.

On the mound, Colin Langley, a junior from nearby Williamston, North Carolina, blistered batters for 5.1 innings giving up no earned runs and fanning ten.

Earning honorable mention were Trevor Durr, John Melvin (LA) catcher who went 12-of-25 (.480) with 4 doubles, 4 home runs, scored 6 runs, with 8 RBI’s, and 5 walks; and JMU pitcher Troy Morel, who in eight innings of relief only gave up five hits, three earned runs (3.37 ERA) with four Ks and picked up the win at NAIA #15 Houston-Victoria.

Congrats to all!

Photos courtesy Isabell Lapoe/Lapoe Photography

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Trojans Go Yard Twice in Win over Bluefield State

ETTRICK, Va. – The Virginia State University Baseball team took on Bluefield State University (4-29) in a double header and dropped game one 5-3 and won game two 4-2 after hitting a pair of home runs.

GAME 1 BSU 5 VSU 3

Both teams would get a runner on in the first. In the bottom of the second VSU would get Victor Johnson and Jaron Ward on second and third with no one out, but they would be left stranded.

The Big Blue would score in the fourth after starting off with a walk, a steal of second then third. An error by the catcher allowed the runner to come around to score.

Then in the fifth Bluefield State would hit a grand slam to left field.

The Trojans mounted a two-out comeback in the bottom of the seventh. David Johnson started the rally with a single, Thomas Ealy then doubled down the right field line. Jaden Guthrie then hit a 2-RBI double to left. TJ McGowan was then Hit by Pitch, followed by Jaquan Tucker getting on via an error to bring home a third run. The next batter would ground out to third to end the game.

GAME 2 VSU 4 BSU 2

In the first inning the Big Blue managed to get runners on second and third with two outs. The next batter then singled to left field to bring both the runner’s home.

The Trojans got on the board in the fourth when Guthrie hit a home run, then in the fifth Norman Jackson started the inning with a single to left followed by a single to left center by Erik Romero. Thomas Ealey then hit his second career home run just over the right field fence to make it a 4-2 game.

Gavin Stevens pitched all seven innings and after the first inning only allowed three hits while striking out eight. Stevens picked up his third win of the season.

With the victory, Virginia State improves to 6-19 on the season. The Trojans return to action this Tuesday, April 15, for a home doubleheader against Lighthouse Christian. Game one is set for a 2:00 p.m.

Story courtesy Virginia State Athletics; Image courtesy VSU and Chris Waugaman @Waugtography

Atlantis Drops 2 of 3 at Trinity Baptist

JACKSONVILLE, Fl. – A three-run fifth-inning rally pulled Trinity Baptist College to within a run, and lightning shortened the game to six innings in the opener of three with USCAA Atlantis University. Atlantis added one in the sixth and won the opener 5-3.

GAME ONE

Trailing 4-0 as they came up in the bottom of the fifth, the Eagles loaded the bases with 1 out. Ryan Onkst started the rally with a base hit to right, and Logan McGann walked. A pitch then hit Gavin Williams to put an Eagle on every base.

Larson Lott chopped one over the pitcher’s head, and Onkst scored the first run of the inning. Seth Reeves followed with a clean single to center to drive in McGann. Williams had stopped at third before the throw from center went astray, and Williams raced home to make the score 4-3. Reliever Christian Olazabal entered and got the final out to end the rally.

Atlantis added an insurance run in the top of the sixth. Trinity got the tying runs on base in the bottom half, but Olazabal again ended the threat.

Umpires called the game after a third nearby lightning strike; the game was delayed twice previously for the same reason.

Onkst was 2 for 2 with 2 walks and a run scored while Williams and Reeves collected hits. Blake Bandy pitched 2 solid innings, allowing only an unearned run, and Braydin Bailey worked 2.2 innings of 1-run relief. Atlantis got solo home runs from Marco Medina, Ozzyel Gabarro, and Nathaniel Gomez.

GAME TWO

Graham Gorman raced home for the walk-off win in Game 1 of Saturday’s twin bill, and Gavin Williams drove in 4 runs to lead his team to the Game 2 win as TBC Eagles Baseball swept the Saturday double-header with Atlantis University.

Gorman doubled with 1 out and the bases empty in the bottom of the seventh to put the winning run on base. After Seth Reeves was hit, both base runners advanced on a line drive from Nate Nogueras that first baseman Marco Medino knocked down on the dive then regrouped to nip Nogueras at first. The first pitch to Dominic Gattinella ricocheted off the catcher’s mitt, allowing Gorman to race home with the game-winning run.

Gorman also scored in TBC’s big 5-run bottom of the first. Running for Onkst (leadoff walk), Gorman scored on Larson Lott’s two-run double to center that also drove in Gavin Williams (hit by pitch) from first. Later in the inning, Tyson LaChapelle lined a double down the left-field line that cleared the bases, driving in Jack Musgrave (running for Lott), Nogueras (walk), and Gattinella (walk). TBC led 5-1, and that was all the Eagles would get until the seventh.

Atlantis got a sacrifice fly in the first from Eduardo Perez and a pair of two-run doubles from Nathaniel Gomez in the second to make it 5-3 and Jonathan Mustelier to tie the score in the fifth.

Drew Billings then settled in to get a ground ball then a 3U-6 double play to end the inning. He then retired 6 of the 7 men he faced over the final two innings to keep the game tied, and the offense rewarded him with his third win in relief.

GAME THREE

Williams accounted for 6 of TBC’s 7 runs off his bat and got credit for 4 RBI. Williams laced a pair of two-run doubles in the first and fourth innings. In the first, after Ryan Onkst and Logan McGann singled to start the game, Williams doubled to left to drive in both men, and Trinity led 2-0. In the fourth, Onkst, McGann, and Williams repeated the rally when Williams took one off the center field wall for his second two-run double of the game.

In between, Williams completed a three-run rally in the bottom of the third with a two-out fly ball to right that dropped out of the glove and safely onto the ground. Tyson LaChapelle and McGann both scored on the error, and TBC led 5-2. Just before, McGann beat out the relay throw to first in attempt to end the inning on a 6-4-3 double play. Dominic Gattinella (leadoff single) scored the run that put Trinity Baptist ahead for good.

Atlantis answered Williams’s first blow with a pair in the second to tie the score at 2-2 via a sacrifice fly and run-scoring single. AU then got single runs in the fourth and fifth innings on a sacrifice fly and bases-loaded hit batsman.

Starter Darren Goeke, Jr. won it with a line of 4 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 3 BB, and 1 K. Trey Rosado and Drew Billings combined for the fifth inning, and Nate Nogueras closed it out for his first save with 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 HP, and 2 BB. With Atlantis threatening and the bases loaded with 1 out, he got a strikeout and a fly ball to Williams to end the game.

Ryan Onkst was on base 10 (officially 9) of his 12 times up in the series. Gatinella was 2 for 5 with a 2B, 3 BB, and 2 R. Eight of TBC’s 20 hits in the series were doubles.

Story and image courtesy Trinity Baptist Athletics

Apprentice Sweeps Virginia State in NSAC Action

ETTRICK, Va. – The Apprentice School baseball team took a pair of New South Athletic Conference matchups over Virginia State Thursday, sweeping the Trojans on their home field.

The Builders took game one by a 3-0 score with all the scoring coming in the middle two innings. In the third, Nate Yeary brought home a pair of runs off a Trojan error in the outfield before Camden Richardson got the third run of the game home on a double that plated Jett Winslow.

In game two, the Builders got the scoring started on a Richardson sacrifice fly in the second inning before a passed ball scored another to push the score to 2-0. After a VSU homer in the bottom of the second, Apprentice scored an insurance run in the fifth on an error to get to a 3-1 final score.

With the wins, the Builders go to 5-2 in league play and improve to 19-11 overall.

Story and image courtesy Apprentice Athletics

Millers’ Battery Named POWs

John Melvin (LA) swept John Melvin (FL) on the road to remain a perfect 10-0 in conference play. A couple of the dudes that helped them do that are our Players of the Week.

Pitcher of the Week: Freshman Bebe King threw a complete game shutout on the road over John Melvin Christian College. 6 innings, 4 hits, 4 strikeouts, 0 runs 

Player of the Week: Junior catcher Trevor Durr on the road versus John Melvin Christian College. 

7/13 (.538 AVG), 2 Doubles, 5 RBI’s, 1 Walk, 2 runs scored, 0 strikeouts on the weekend. 

Congrats, Bebe and Trevor!

Millers Claim ‘Kingdom Cup,’ Remain Undefeated in NSAC Play

CROWLEY, LA. – John Melvin (LA) returned to conference play after facing a tough opponent in Paris Junior College last weekend for another road trip this weekend to face off against NSAC opponent John Melvin Christian College (FL). JMU had already swept JMCC at home earlier in the season and were now looking to clinch the first ever Kingdom Cup between the two schools.

Game one was all Millers from the start. JMU scored two runs in the first inning and another five runs in the third inning to take a commanding 7-1 lead early in the game. The Miller offense raked up 13 hits and 11 runs in total, led by multi-hit games from Connor Pleasant, JT Teuton, and Cabet Blanchard. The sub players stepped up when they were called on late in the game with Josh Guidroz, Gavin Walker, and Tyler Knippers all getting hits off the bench. Caleb Ougel was shutdown on the mound in game one, working seven innings and allowing just one earned run on three hits in the start; picking up his fourth win of the season. Freshman Brian Ellendar took the mound to throw the last two innings of the game and was as close to perfect as you can get, allowing no hits, no walks, and striking out five of the six batters that he faced.

Game two started out just like game one and was all Millers from the start. JMU scored four runs in the second inning and three more in the third inning to again, take a commanding 7-0 lead early in the game. Sophomore Eli Musgraves was the leader of the offense in game two, working a three for three day at the plate, scoring two runs and picking up two RBI’s. The offense was on fire from top to bottom in the game with 9 Millers picking up a hit and 6 Millers picking up multi-hit games. Freshman Jack Day was a key piece to the offense, picking up two hits and three RBI’s out of the nine hole. Freshman Bebe King went the distance on the mound in game two, throwing a six inning complete game shutout and allowing just four hits, clinching his first career win on the mound.

Game three was a classic pitchers dual between JMU starter Bryce Oquinn and JMCC starter Cole Crocker. Oquinn threw five innings on just 62 pitches, allowing two runs on just two hits and walking nobody. Senior Willy Flynn entered the game after Oquinn, picking up the win on the mound and closing out the Millers sweep with two innings of one run ball. While hits and runs were tough to come by for the majority of the game, Junior catcher Trevor Durr stepped up to lead the offense with three hits, a double, and four RBI’s. Freshman Braeden Morgan also had a multi-hit game and had the dagger in the final inning when he hit a two RBI double to extend the Millers lead to three runs.

The Millers remain a perfect 10-0 in conference play and have a four-game lead over second place in the NSAC standings. JMU has two conference series remaining, facing Lighthouse Christian at home this upcoming weekend and the final series against JMCC at home the following weekend.

Story and image courtesy JMU Athletics

Virginia State-Lighthouse Christian Series Postponed

ETTRICK, Va. – Virginia State baseball coach Merrill Morgan has announced this weekend’s NSAC series versus Lighthouse Christian College (4-19) has been postponed. A makeup date will be announced once it has been determined. 

The Trojans will be back in action Wednesday April 9 @ 5 p.m. against Christendom College (9-10). 

Story courtesy VSU Athletics; image courtesy Chris Waugaman