Category: VSU

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

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.