HAMPTON, Va. – Virginia State took a doubleheader sweep of Apprentice Thursday afternoon winning both games 4-3. The pair of NSAC wins was just enough to knock the Builders from second to third in the seedings for next week’s conference tournament in Wilson, North Carolina.

GAME 1: VSU 4 APP 3

Both teams would get a hit in the first but wouldn’t score. In the top of the second inning Norman Jackson hit a one-out double that landed just fair, but he was left stranded.

The opening batter got on to start the third for the Builders via an error, then advanced to third after back-to-back groundouts. Preston Branzelle then got out of the inning after striking out the last batter.

TJ McGowan started the fourth with a single up the middle. A one-out double by Victor Johnson allowed McGowan to round the bases to score the first run of the game. Jackson then hit a single up the middle to bring home Johnson.

Hector Rivera continued the strong inning, hitting his first collegiate home run just inside the left field foul pole making it 3-0 Trojans.

The Builders managed to answer with runners on the corners with one out in their half of the fourth. Apprentice would use a two-out single to get on the board.

Marquis Smith started the fifth with a single then advanced to second after a Thomas Ealey sacrifice bunt, but would be left on third.

Apprentice used a two-out rally in the sixth to score another run making it 3-2 going into the seventh inning.

Back-to-back one-out singles in the top of the seventh got a runner in scoring position for VSU. McGowan hit a single up the middle to add an insurance run for Virginia State.

The Builders opened their half of the seventh with a walk, then a failed pickoff attempt allowed the runner to advance to third. That runner would come around to score after a groundout.

Branzelle tossed a complete game to pick up his fourth win of the season.

GAME 2: VSU 4 APP 3

McGowan managed to get to second after a single, then a failed pickoff attempt, but was left stranded. Gavin Stevens pitched a 1-2-3 inning on only six pitches to open the game.

After a double play to start the bottom of the second, the Builders put a runner on second, but Stevens was able to get the third out.

With two outs in the third Ealey worked a walk, then Jaden Guthrie hit the Trojans’ second homerun on the day into the left field stands making it 2-0.

The Trojans used small ball in the fourth after Jaquan Tucker hit a leadoff single, then was bunted over to second. Jackson then hit a single up the middle to score Tucker and advanced to second on the throw. After a Rivera single, Joshua Mahan laid down a sac bunt to score Jackson but was thrown out trying to go for second.

The Builders managed to load the bases in their half of the fourth with no outs. A sac fly followed by a failed pickoff attempt allowed all three runners to score making it 4-3.

Neither team got a baserunner in scoring position in the fifth or sixth inning.

In the seventh Jaron Ward was hit by a pitch then advanced to second after a wild pitch with one out.

Stevens faced the bottom of the Builders’ lineup in the seventh inning and got the first out via a strikeout. A HBP then a single to left put two runners on for Apprentice. The next batter grounded out to move the winning and tying runs into scoring position. Smith then caught the final out to win game two 4-3.

Stevens picked up his fourth win of the season.

VSU has clinched fifth in the conference tournament.

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