Category: VSU

Trojans Down Mustangs 5-2 to Advance

WILSON, N.C. – Gavin Stevens threw a complete-game 5-hitter and third-seed Virginia State held off second-seed Mid-Atlantic Christian 5-2 in the NSAC Baseball Tournament Thursday afternoon at Historic Fleming Stadium.

The freshman rightie kept the Mustangs (23-21) off the board until the ninth inning.

VSU (15-31) advances to face Lighthouse, which stunned top-seed Apprentice 5-0, in the noon game on Friday. MACU and Apprentice meet in an elimination game tonight at 6:30 pm.

Redman, Lee Head 2024 All-Conference Selections

Nick Redman of Apprentice and Jalyn Lee of Mid-Atlantic Christian lead a stellar group of 19 players which have been selected by the league coaches as the 2024 NSAC All-Conference Team.

Redman, the Pitcher of the Year, led the Builder pitching staff with a sparkling 2.39 ERA with eight wins against no losses on the season. In 49 innings pitched, the sophomore lefty from New Kent, Virginia gave up only 36 hits and 13 earned runs.

Lee was named Player of the Year by virtue of a team-leading .391 batting average with 40 RBI. The 6-2 senior from Smithfield, North Carolina finished the regular season with seven homers and a .461 OBP.

Congratulations to Redman, Lee, and all the members of the 2024 NSAC All-Conference Team!

The Apprentice School

  • Nolan Edwards, INF
  • Jeremy Harmon, C
  • Isaac McAllister, P
  • Caleb Russell, C
  • Nick Redman, P
  • Camden Weston, IF
  • Nate Yeary, OF

Mid-Atlantic Christian University

  • Dakota Jacobsen, P
  • Colin Langley, P
  • Jalyn Lee, 1B
  • Adam Schell, INF
  • Travis Snell, OF

Virginia State University

  • Joe Hastings, P
  • Chris Henderson, 3B
  • Norman Jackson, 2B
  • Victor Johnson, OF
  • TJ McGowan, 1B
  • Jamari Pooler, SS
  • Jimmyll Williams, UTIL

Images courtesy Apprentice Athletics and MACU Athletics

Trojans Win Lighthouse Series, Claim Tourney Third Seed

ETTRICK, Va. – After dropping the series opener on Saturday, Virginia State bounced back to sweep a tripleheader against Lighthouse Christian on Sunday and clinch the third seed in the upcoming NSAC baseball tournament.

The teams were originally scheduled to play doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday, but transportation troubles for the Makos allowed time for just one game Saturday. The teams decided to make up the missed game on Sunday.

Lighthouse pounced on the Trojans for nine runs in the sixth inning to break a 2-2 tie and pull away for a 12-5 win on Saturday.

In Sunday’s opener, it was the Trojans’ turn for an offensive display, exploding for 11 runs in the fifth to force the run rule and win 12-1 in six.

The middle game saw the Makos plating five runs in the first and carrying a 7-5 lead into the bottom of the seventh. VSU pushed three runs across in the home half of the inning to get the walk-off win 8-7. With that win, the Trojans clinched the third seed in the conference tournament beginning Thursday. LCC will be the fourth seed.

In the final regular season game for both teams, the Trojans broke a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the 7th to take their second walk-off win in a row 4-3.

Thus the brackets are now set for the NSAC Baseball Tournament as top seed Apprentice will face #4 Lighthouse in the opener Thursday at 11:00 am. Mid-Atlantic Christian, the second seed, will take on #3 Virginia State at 3:00 pm.

All games will take place at Historic Fleming Stadium in Wilson, North Carolina.

Image courtesy Chris Waugaman/VSU Athletics

Mustangs Clinch 2nd Seed with Doubleheader Sweep of Trojans

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. – Mid-Atlantic Christian wrapped up its New South Conference schedule on Wednesday with a twin-bill sweep of Virginia State 6-3 and 6-5. With the pair of victories at Knobb’s Creek, the Mustangs (23-18 overall, 9-5 NSAC) lock up the second seed in next week’s conference tournament.

The Trojans (11-30, 2-6) conclude their schedule against conference foe Lighthouse Christian this weekend in a four-game slate. VSU can clinch the third seed with two wins against the Makos.

Apprentice has already clinched the top spot in the tournament, which will begin Thursday, May 2 in Wilson, North Carolina.

Image courtesy MACU Athletics

VSU Drops Decision at #19 Mount Olive

MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. – On Monday, Virginia State played its fourth game in three days, this time against #19 Mount Olive, and dropped the game between the Trojans 15-1. 

Neither team got a runner on in the first and VSU went down in order in the top of the second. UMO would then use a two-out rally to score four runs off starter Coron Wallace. Jody Morris then came in to pitch and got the final out. Matthew May managed to single to right field and advanced to second after a ground out, but he was stranded there. Morris managed to throw a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the third to keep Mount Olive off the scoreboard. 

In the bottom of the fourth Mount Olive hit back-to-back singles to start the inning and scored another run, then followed with a double down the left field line which made it 6-0. In the fifth inning VSU went down in order with three straight strikeouts. A pair of hits for UMO in the seventh plated their seventh run with just one out. Then a HBP and a steal of second put both runners in scoring position followed by a single up the middle, bringing two more runs across to make it 9-0. In total, Mount Olive would get to 10 runs in the bottom of the fifth. UMO added another five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Virginia State did manage to get a run across in the seventh.  

With the loss, VSU drops to 11-28 while Mount Olive improves to 32-12. VSU will hit the road once again for an NSAC doubleheader on Wednesday, April 24 starting at 1 pm against Mid-Atlantic Christian University. 

Story and image courtesy VSU Athletics

MACU Picks Up Conference Road Win at VSU

ETTRICK, Va. – Virginia State dropped a nine-inning affair to Mid Atlantic Christian on Thursday 13-2. 

MACU managed to load the bases with back-to-back singles and an error by the third baseman. A fielder’s choice would bring one run across, but the Trojans starter Gavin Stevens managed to get out of the jam. The Trojans would get that run back in the second inning after Jaquan Tucker was hit by the pitch and advanced to second on a sac bunt. Matthew May was hit by the pitch and then Avante Banks hit a two-out double to bring across Tucker. 

The Mustangs would add another run in the fourth and then put up five runs in the fifth. In the bottom of the sixth, Banks hit into a fielder’s choice to bring across Thomas Chandler to score VSU’s second run. However, MACU would score seven more runs in the eighth and ninth innings to make the final score 13-2. 

Jimmyll Williams and TJ McGowan were the only Trojans with multiple hits, and Stevens now drops to 2-5 on the year. As a team, VSU now sits at 11-24 while MACU improved to 21-18.

Story and image courtesy VSU Athletics

Builders, Trojans Split Twin Bill, Again

HAMPTON, Va. – After splitting a doubleheader last weekend, Virginia State and Apprentice repeated the feat Friday with the Builders taking the opener 12-2 and the Trojans winning the nightcap by the identical score.  

GAME 1: BUILDERS 12, TROJANS 2

  • After Jimmyll Williams got hit by the pitch he stole second before a double play ended the first inning. The Builders hit a triple and brought the runner in on a sac fly to score  
  • In the bottom of the second Newport News was the benefited from an opening walk before a two out double drove him home. A passed ball then let that runner move to third. Another double would put runners on second and third while also making the score 3-0 
  • An RBI ground out, let the third run of the inning come across for the Builders and in the fifth one more run came around to score making it 5-0 Newport News  
  • In the bottom of the fourth the Builders doubled down the line and then advanced on two wild pitches to score 
  • The Trojans answered with a Jaquan Tucker home run. Victor Johnson than tripled and Matthew May hit a sacrifice fly to get VSU on the board 
  • In the bottom of the sixth the Builders get three runs to have a 10-run advantage at 12-2 

GAME 2: TROJANS 12, BUILDERS 2 

  • The two opening batters got on and TJ McGowan hit a bunt single to get the runner on third across. Tucker walked to load the bases and then Jamari Pooler hit a double to score two. Daniel Smith then hit a sac fly to put four up in the first inning 
  • Avante Banks and Williams hit back-to-back singles in the second, McGowan then walked to load the bases with one out. Tucker was hit by a pitch to let a run in, and Pooler hit a 2 RBI single right after. Justus Crawley then hit an RBI single and Smith hit an RBI fielder’s choice 
  • The builders would score in the bottom of the inning, but in the top of the third the Trojans would put up their final three runs of the game with Tucker and Pooler picking up the RBI’s 
  • Apprentice picked up one more in the third, but Joesph Hastings would shut down the Builders for the rest of the game to pick up his second win 

Story courtesy VSU Athletics; image courtesy Chris Waugaman, VSU Athletics

Trojans Drop Pair to D1 VMI

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

Trojans Hand Builders First NSAC Loss in Twin Bill Split

ETTRICK, Va. – The Virginia State University baseball team split a doubleheader against the Apprentice School on Friday dropping game one 7-1 and winning game two 5-1. 

GAME 1: BUILDERS 7, VSU 1

  • The Builders would go down in order in the first and in the bottom of the inning Jimmyll Willams walked and Christian Henderson singled before both players stole to get runners on second and third. 
  • Then on a two out wild pitch both runners moved up 90 feet to get the Trojans on the board 
  • The Builders would add another run in the second and then in the fourth Apprentice then hung up three runs to widen their margin 
  • Apprentice then added a run in the fifth sixth and seventh innings while and Avante Banks walk and steal of second was the only time the Trojans would get a runner in scoring position 

GAME 2: VSU 5, BUILDERS 1 

  • Neither team would manage much in the first two innings with the only hits being by Williams and Victor Johnson for VSU 
  • Joesph Hastings started the game and was throwing a perfect game through three innings 
  • Banks and Williams hit back-to-back doubles to get runners on second and third with no outs. Henderson hit an RBI-ground out and an error by the 3b would get Jaquan Tucker to second and would score TJ McGowan who got on by a fielder’s choice 
  • The Builders only managed to get two batters on through the fourth and fifth innings via an error and a walk 
  • In the bottom of the sixth Jamari Pooler started the inning off with a double that was just feet from being a home run. Pooler then stole third and a Jody Morris double brought him in to score. Morris then advanced to third on an error by the catcher and Williams walked. Henderson then hit the third double of the inning to score both Morris and Williams 
  • The Builders managed to get a runner on second after a single and a wild pitch. A one-out single put runners on the corners before a two out walk loaded the bases 
  • A wild pitch advanced every runner to finally get the Builders on the board 
  • Hastings earned his first win of the season 
  • The Trojan win was their first NSAC victory of the season and the Builder’s first conference loss

Trojans Drop Contest to Barton

ETTRICK, Va. – The Virginia State University baseball team welcomed the Barton Bulldogs to the field and dropped a 17-4 decision Tuesday afternoon.

Neither team would get a run across in the first inning, and in the second Preston Branzelle would face the minimum after catching two runners stealing. Then in the bottom half of the inning The Trojans managed to load the bases with Jaylen Lovett getting hit by a pitch, Matthew May walking and Bryce Wilmoth walking. Then Jimmyll Williams hit a triple to right field to clear the bases making it 3-0. 

The Bulldogs managed to get one back in the top of the third, but then managed to hang up four runs in the top of the fourth after loading the bases. However, the Trojans did add one run in the bottom of the third inning when Christian Henderson scored on a wild pitch to have the score by 5-4 going into the fifth. Neither team managed anything in the fifth, but Barton took over by scoring 12 runs over the next two innings to put the game out of reach earning them a 17-4 victory. 

Henderson was the only Trojan with multiple hits.

VSU will host an NSAC doubleheader against Apprentice at 1 pm on Friday March 25. 

Story and image courtesy VSU Athletics