Category: VSU

VSU Drops Home Openers to Lock Haven

ETTRICK, Va.- After going 3-0 in Atlanta last weekend, Virginia State dropped decisions of 8-1 and 8-2 in a double header against Lock Haven on Saturday in the Trojan’s home openers.

GAME 1 LOCK HAVEN 8 VIRGINIA STATE 1 

  • After both teams managed to get players in scoring position in the first innings but neither could cash in the oppurtunity. 
  • The Bald Eagles started the second inning with a seeing eye single up the middle and then back-to-back errors by the Trojans in the field to juice the bases. Joseph Hastings came back and struck out the next batter before walking the next to make the score 1-0, then a double to left center plated all three Eagles on the basepath to make the score 4-0 
  • In the bottom half of the inning Dawyson Hock singled to center and TJ McGowan walked. Jody Morris then laid down a sac bunt to make it Trojans on thrd and second with just one out. The next two VSU batters grounded out the third and short to end the inning 
  • To lead off the third Lock Haven singled and stole second base to get a player in scoring position with no one out. After a Hastings strikeout a single to left would plater another making it 5-0 
  • In the bottom half of the inning Thomas Moore hit a one out double to left then Christian Henderson would score him on a two out single through the right side to get VSU on the board 
  • Lock Haven would score runs in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings while holding the Trojans to limited opportunities with runners in scoring position 
  • Hastings moved to 0-1 on the year but ended his day with five innings pitched and six strikeouts 

GAME 2 LOCK HAVEN 8 VIRGINIA STATE 2 

  • LHU only needed three batters before they scored a run off a one out double to center field. The next batters were hit by the pitch and hit a single to load the bases. A walk and a sac fly would plate the next two run making the score 3-0 in the first inning  
  • The Bald Eagles would hit another sac fly in the top of the second inning making it 4-0, before finally going down in order in the third and fourth innings for the first time all day 
  • In the top of the fifth LHU would single to left, followed by a single to right but the batter was out a second that allowed the runner to who was on first to advance to third though. Two batters later a single through the right side would score him making it 5-0 
  • In the bottom half of the inning Jaylin Lovett walked and stole second with one out. Victor Johnson then hit a single to set up runners on the corners. Lovett and Johnson then performed a double steal to get VSU on the board. Thomas Moore then singled past the short stop to plater another making it 5-2 
  • In the top of the sixth the Bald Eagles would plate their final three runs with a single down the left field line, a stolen base and a double down the left field line 

The team is now 3-2 on the season and returns tomorrow to take on Lock Haven for another double header starting at 12 pm. 

Story courtesy govsutrojans.com

Trojans, Tigers Advance to Sunday Championship

ETTRICK, VA – Joseph Hastings was absolutely dominant on the mound Saturday afternoon as he allowed just one hit and a walk through seven innings to lead Virginia State to a 3-1 victory over Mid-Atlantic Christian University and a berth to the New South Athletic Conference Championship on Sunday.

Hastings struck out six batters and took a no-hitter bid into the sixth inning before surrendering his first and only hit of the game. At the plate, the Trojans generated just enough offense, especially with Ricky Jones two-RBI single through the left side in the fourth.

The Trojans’ overall record improves to 21-27 and will play in the championship game of the NSAC Tournament at 1 p.m.

The Trojans avoided disaster in the bottom of the seventh to secure their place in the title game. A catcher’s interference call on the Trojans led to the bases being loaded with no outs. Avante Banks recorded the first out by catching a popup foul ball and Virginia State completed a very close double play (shortstop to second to first) to win the game. The Trojans are defending conference champions for a reason and Hastings and the defense showed why in the half-inning.

The four combined runs in this game all came in the fourth inning.

Virginia State led the inning off with four consecutive singles from Norman Jackson, Liam Simpson, Ricky Jones, and Dawsyn Hock. Jones scored Jackson and Simpson with his single and Hock’s hit up the middle brought Jones home.

The lone Mustang run was caused by a lone Trojans’ fielding error in the outfield that resulted in the runner advancing to third base and scoring on the next at-bat.

The Trojans are a win away from earning their second consecutive NSAC Championship.

After a tough loss on Friday evening, Salem had its work cut out in the elimination round. The Tigers faced off with the Builders of the Apprentice School, and picked up a dramatic 5-4 win. That win earned them a contest with the Mustangs of Mid-Atlantic Christian, and Salem ran away with that one with a dominant 17-2 victory.

The two wins today have earned the Tigers a spot in the NSAC Championship and a rematch with the Virginia State Trojans at 1 p.m. Sunday. Should Salem win, tht will force a second and deciding game starting 30 minutes after the close of the first game.

Story content and image courtesy govsutrojans.com and salemtigers.com

VSU’s Morgan Earns 400th Win in Split with AS

HAMPTON, Va. – Virginia State baseball coach Merrill Morgan earned his 400th career victory when the Trojans downed Apprentice, 14-1, in the first game of today’s doubleheader.

In a topsy-turvy game two, the Builders walked off with a 9-8 win that featured 13 runs scored in extra innings.

In the first game, the Trojans logged 15 hits, including seven extra-base hits, en route to the 14 runs. Markeefe Beckett and Liam Simpson were dominant at the plate, combining for six hits, nine RBIs, and a home run each. Jody Morris was on the mound for VSU and pitched five innings, allowing just one earned run with two strikeouts.

The second game was tied at 2-2 at the end of the seven scheduled innings, but then came the fireworks with the Builders claiming the walk-off win, scoring five runs in the bottom of the ninth. Before it became runs galore, Aldrewvonte Jackson was shutting down batters to the tune of four innings pitched with no earned runs (one unearned) and four strikeouts. Logan Mize earned the victory for Apprentice.

Today’s games marked the end of the conference regular season for all NSAC teams with the conference tournament starting Friday at Whaley Colbert Field in Ettrick, Virginia. In the 3:00 pm matchup, 2nd seed Mid-Atlantic Christian will face 3rd seed Apprentice, and 4th seed Virginia State is set to take the field at 5:30 p.m. against top-seeded Salem University.

Story and image courtesy govsutrojans.com

Hammond, Redman Lead All-NSAC Team

VSU’s Tahraun Hammond

Virginia State’s Tahraun Hammond and Apprentice’s Nick Redman have been selected as the New South Conference Baseball Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year, respectively, to lead the All-Conference voting.

Hammond, a sophomore shortstop from Tappahannock, Virginia, enters the conference tournament batting .322 with 37 hits, 32 runs, 16 RBIs and 34 BBs. He also pitched 59.2 innings with a 3-2 record and four saves.

Apprentice’s Nick Redman

Redman, a freshman leftie from New Kent, Virginia, has a sparkling 8-1 record in 13 appearances with 64.2 innings on the mound. Nick has given up only 16 earned runs for an ERA of 2.23 and 84 strikeouts (11.69 per game).

Congratulations to Tahraun, Nick, and all the members of the 2023 NSAC All-Conference Team!

First Team

  • Tahraun Hammond, SS, Virginia State — Player of the Year
  • Nick Redman, LHP, Apprentice — Pitcher of the Year
  • Alex Miller, OF, Mid-Atlantic Christian
  • Hunter Johnson, INF, Apprentice
  • Caleb Whitley, OF, Mid-Atlantic Christian
  • Ricky Jones, OF, Virginia State
  • Nathan Kuhn, OF, Salem
  • Jalyn Lee, INF, Mid-Atlantic Christian
  • Riggs Ellis, INF, Apprentice
  • Colin Langley, P/C, Mid-Atlantic Christian
  • Sam Schmitt, LHP, Salem

Second Team

  • Luis Angarita, 2B, Salem
  • Joe Hastings, P, Virginia State
  • Jaryd Lund, LHP, Salem
  • Bryce Post, RHP, Apprentice
  • Liam Simpson, LF, Virginia State
  • Travis Snell, OF, Mid-Atlantic Christian
  • Anthony Torres, MIF, Mid-Atlantic Christian
  • Camden Weston, SS, Apprentice
  • Nate Yeary, CF, Apprentice
  • Kaiden Zacharias, 1B/OF, Salem

NSAC Honors 2023 Baseball All-Academics

Each season, the New South Conference is proud to recognize its student-athletes who excel in both the classroom and the field. The following young men have all achieved at least a 3.0 grade point average (GPA) on a 4-point scale while also displaying excellence on the diamond.

“This is my favorite award,” said NSAC commissioner Mike Davis. “Athletic achievement is hard enough, but it’s compounded when combined with the rigors of academics. I’m proud to say that our member schools do not sacrifice one for the other.”

The 2023 New South Athletic Conference Baseball All-Academic Team:

The Apprentice School

  • Jack Daszkowski
  • Thomas Ellis
  • Logan Mize
  • Matthew Phoebus
  • Bryce Post
  • Jake Sanchez-Tiller
  • Braxton Wallace
  • Kyle Whitlock
  • Tyler Winegrad

Mid-Atlantic Christian University

  • Titus Bleckley
  • Bobby Brown
  • Josiah Collado
  • Drew Copeland
  • Trey Dail
  • Riane Franklin
  • Aidan Guise
  • Sean Henry
  • Giovanny Mendez
  • Landen Miller
  • Ryan Mitchell
  • Jamel Moss
  • Anthony Torres
  • Syler White

Salem University

  • Max Atkinson
  • Jacob Barcikowski
  • Evan Bell
  • Liam Conway
  • Tommy Downey
  • Brett Her
  • Memphis Elliott
  • Chase George
  • Frankie Gulko
  • Tyler Gump
  • Alex Harper
  • Gavin Hissam
  • Trey Hissam
  • Ryan Hopping
  • Jackson Hutchison
  • Zach Kendall
  • Nathan Kuhn
  • Travis Lavendier
  • Jaxon Lehr
  • Hayes Lightsey
  • Jose Lojo
  • Jordan Mosley
  • Adlai Muench
  • Haidyn Norman
  • Keegan Oliver
  • Gabe Ross
  • Tyler Sammons
  • Sam Schmitt
  • Ben Sitarenios
  • Tyler Shinn
  • Keith Wallace
  • Kaiden Zacharias

Virginia State University

  • Rahzel Atkinson
  • Avante Banks
  • Thomas Chandler
  • Justis Crawley
  • Alexander Dayle
  • Tahraun Hammond
  • Joseph Hastings
  • Dawsyn Hock
  • Aldrewvonte Jackson
  • Norman Jackson
  • Ricky Jones
  • David Johnson
  • Gene Ligon
  • Ryan Messer
  • Jody Morris

Salem Sweeps VSU, Earns Top Seed for NSAC Tournament

NUTTER FORT, W.V. – The Salem baseball team played host to the Trojans of Virginia State for a 4-game weekend series at Frank Loria Memorial Field in Nutter Fort. The Tigers also took the opportunity to celebrate the graduating team members with Senior Day festivities ahead of Sunday’s matchups, and they celebrated with style as they beat the Trojans in all four weekend contests, and in the process secured the top seed in the upcoming New South Baseball Tournament.

The teams battled both their opponents and some wet conditions for Sunday’s matchups. In Game 3 of the weekend, Salem starter Alden Halfinger got the win with 5 innings of work with 7 strikeouts while allowing just 2 Trojan hits in a 3-1 victory.

Salem uncorked its strongest offensive outing of the weekend in the final contest when the Tigers plated 5 runs in the fifth inning, cruising to an 8-2 win.

Salem ends is conference schedule at 6-0, earning the Tigers the top seed in the NSAC Baseball Tournament beginning Friday, May 5 in Petersburg, Virginia.

Conference regular season play will conclude on Tuesday when Apprentice hosts VSU for a doubleheader.

Story and image courtesy Salem athletics

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