Category: VSU

Tigers Take Two from Trojans

NUTTER FORT, W.V.- Saturday’s doubleheader between Virginia State and Salem University featured one-score games entering the sixth inning but the Tigers pulled away  to secure a pair of wins over the visiting Trojans.

In the first game, Virginia State found themselves trailing 5-4 entering the sixth inning before the Salem added three runs as insurance. In the second game, the Tigers struck sixth inning magic again, flipping a 4-2 Trojans lead into a 5-4 Salem victory.

Salem improves to 23-24 overall and 4-0 in the NSAC, while the Trojans drop to 18-24 and 1-7. The two teams will face off in another doubleheader Sunday afternoon.

Story and image courtesy govsutrojans.com

Three NSAC Teams in National Rankings

New South Athletic Conference baseball squads are getting recognized nationally for their work on the diamond.

Defending Small College World Series champion Apprentice School is ranked third in the first USCAA baseball poll of the season, behind only Miami-Hamilton and Bucks County. Mid-Atlantic Christian rounds out the poll at number 15, with Salem bubbling just under the radar.

Virginia State is currently ranked fifth in the Black College Nines’ Top 10 Poll.

MACU Slips Past VSU 8-7

ETTRICK, Va. – Redshirt junior Jalyn Lee launched a home run and scored 2 RBIs to lead Mid-Atlantic Christian to an 8-7 NSAC win over Virginia State Monday afternoon.

Colin Langley only gave up one earned run in 6 1/3 innings to get the win for the Mustangs. Caleb Whitley pitched 2 innings in relief for the save.

With the win, the Mustangs stay unbeaten in NSAC play at 2-0 and improve overall to 16-16. The Trojans fall to 0-1 and 13-11, respectively.

VSU Earns National Top 5 Ranking

Virginia State’s success on the baseball diamond is being recognized nationally. The Trojans are currently ranked fifth in the Black Colleges Nines Small School Poll. Staying near the top of the poll has been a goal for the Trojans. The top-eight HBCU small schools will be invited to the 2023 Black College World Series in Montgomery, Alabama May 10-13.

In addition,, VSU also received votes in the latest National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Division II poll.

The Trojans open their New South Conference schedule today at 3:00 pm hosting Mid-Atlantic Christian.

Story and image courtesy govsutrojans.com

Trojans Split Doubleheader with Mansfield

Score: Virginia State 4, Mansfield 3
Location: Ettrick, VA (Whaley Colbert field)
Records: Virginia State 7-4, Mansfield 3-5

The Short Story: The Trojans were able to hold off the Mountaineers after they scored three runs in the final three innings of play.

FIRST GLANCE

  • Sophomore Tahraun Hammond increased his hitting streak to nine games going 1-2 with a walk and a run scored.
  • Senior Ricky Jones went 1-3 with a double and a run batted in.
  • Graduate Student Liam Simpson continues to stay hot in the batter’s box going 1-3 with a double, a run scored and a run batted in.
  • Junior Bryce Wilmoth was 1-2 with a walk and a run scored as well.
  • Sophomore Joseph Hastings earned the win after three strikeouts with two walks and three earned runs.

HOW IT HAPPENED

  • The bottom of the first inning saw the Trojans take a 1-0 lead after Liam Simpson drove Tahraun Hammond in to score on a ground out.
  • The Trojans would add to their lead after Liam Simpson capitalized on an error made by the Mansfield second base man to take a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning.
  • The Mountaineers would strike back with on RBI single into left field to make the score 2-1 in the top of the fifth inning.
  • Ricky Jones allowed his team to answered with a double into center field to score Bryce Wilmoth to make the score 3-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning. Later that inning, Avante Banks scored on a wild pitch to make the score 4-1.
  • The top of the sixth inning saw the Mountaineers throw their knock out blows as they shortened the lead to 4-2 after driving in a double into left center field. They went on to score on a single into left field to make the score 4-3.  

     

Score: Virginia State 1, Mansfield 7
Location: Ettrick, VA (Whaley Colbert field)
Records: Virginia State 4-5, Mansfield 47-5

The Short Story: After a slow start for both sides, Mansfield controlled the game scoring five runs in the top of the sixth inning.


FIRST GLANCE

HOW IT HAPPENED

  • The games first run wasn’t scored until the top of the third inning as the Mountaineers went up 1-0 after grounding out to Morris Ford, Jr.
  • In the top of the fifth inning, Mansfield added another run on a sacrifice fly ball to Ricky Jones in center field to make the score 2-0
  • The top of the fifth inning saw the Mountaineers score five runs on two hits with one error and three runners left on base. Mansfield increased their lead to 7-0.
  • The Trojans would avoid the shutout after David Johnson would draw a bases loaded walk to score Dawsyn Hock to make it 7-1.  

UP NEXT
The Trojans will attempt to win the four-game series after splitting the doubleheader the first day. Sunday, March 5 will see Trojans and Mansfield wrap up their four-game series with another doubleheader starting at 1:00 p.m.

VSU Baseball Takes First Loss of 2023 Season to #10/25 Savannah State 12-0

The Virginia State Trojans left just one runner on base and acquired just two hits as the Tigers exploded for 12 runs handing VSU their first loss of the 2023 season.

FIRST GLANCE

  • Senior outfielder Ricky Jones hit a triple in his first at-bat of the contest
  • Sophomore outfielder Avante Banks earned a hit in the ball game
  • Junior pitcher Robert Hatcher earned six strike outs and walked just two batters in five innings of work
  • Sophomore right hander-hander David Johnson made his collegiate debut as a pitcher, recording two strike outs, two walks and two hits in only an inning.

HOW IT HAPPENED

  • After the Trojans were unable to capitalize on a triple form Ricky Jones, the Tigers struck first on an RBI triple into center field to make the score 2-0 in the bottom of the second inning.
  • The very next at-bat, the Tigers scored on a RBI single into center field to stretch their lead to 3-0
  •  The Tigers went on to add to their lead with a base path clearing double which made the score 6-0
  • SSU would go on to add to their lead in the bottom of the fifth innings as two hits and two run made the score 8-0
  • The Trojans gave up another rum on a wild pitch prior to a bases loaded triple which made the final score 12-0  

Story and image courtesy govsutrojans.com