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

Redman Fans Nine as Builders Knock Off MACU 5-4

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. – Nick Redman threw eight innings and struck out nine as the Apprentice School baseball team took down Mid-Atlantic Christian 5-4 Tuesday afternoon.

The Builders got on the board in the first inning, scoring two runs on a Caleb Russell single up the middle. After the Mustangs scored in the bottom half of the first to cut the lead to 2-1, Apprentice scored two more in the second on a pair of MACU errors.

The Mustangs again cut the lead to one in the fourth on a Travis Snell two-run blast over the left field fence, but the Builders answered in the top of the fifth, scoring on another MACU error to extend the lead to 5-3. The Mustangs pushed across a run in the bottom of the ninth, but it was not enough as Apprentice handed MACU its first New South Athletic Conference loss of the season.

Redman improved to 8-1 on the season, while Logan Mize picked up his seventh save of the year. Jeremy Harmon led the Builders at the plate, going 3-for-4, while Nate Yeary and Riggs Ellis each had a pair of hits.

Story and image courtesy gobuilders.com

Johnson Hits His Way into Record Book, POW Honors

Hunter Johnson went 4-for-5 at the plate with six RBI’s, tying him for sixth in the Apprentice record book for RBI in a single game, as the Builders pounded out a 21-6 win over Paul D. Camp last Wednesday. Hunter’s individual performance earned him the NSAC Player of the Week honor.

Hunter also crossed the plate three times in the win.

Congrats to Hunter Johnson, our NSAC Player of the Week!

Image courtesy Apprentice Athletics

Final Week of NSAC Play will Determine Seedings

With just one week of baseball left in the regular season, all seeds are up for grabs for the 2023 New South Baseball Tournament scheduled to begin on Friday, May 5 at Whaley Colbert Field in Petersburg, Virginia.

A total of six games remain in conference play beginning with today’s Apprentice – Mid-Atlantic Christian matchup slated for 3:00 pm in Elizabeth City, North Carolina.

Salem opened its NSAC play this past weekend by sweeping Virginia State, but the Trojans can bounce back this weekend when they make the return trip to Nutter Fort.

Then next Tuesday May 2, the regular season concludes with VSU traveling to Newport News to face the Builders.

Langley, Lee are NSAC Weekly Honorees

Mid-Atlantic Christian pitcher Colin Langley had another outstanding week for the Mustangs. The freshman from Williamston, North Carolina pitched 7.1 innings with 5 strikeouts against Apprentice, plus 5.1 innings against Carolina U with 9 SO’s, to earn NSAC Pitcher of the Week honors for the second time this season. For the week, Langley allowed just 2 earned runs and 8 hits.

MACU’s Jalyn Lee was swinging a big bat for the Herd this week. The redshirt junior from Smithfield, North Carolina went 7 for 12 with 4 RBI’s, 2 runs scored, and a homer, earning Lee the NSAC Player of the Week Award.

Congrats to Colin and Jaylin!

Tigers’ Schmitt Named Pitcher of the Week

Salem pitcher Sam Schmitt chalked 13 strikeouts and allowed only 4 hits as the Tigers took down Mansfield 5-0 last week, earning Schmitt Pitcher of the Week honors from the New South Conference.

The sophomore leftie from Traverse City, Michigan got a 7-inning complete game win in shutting out the Mounties.

Congratulations to Sam Schmitt, our Pitcher of the Week!

Image courtesy Salem Athletics

Salem Hangs Tough in Weekend Series with Mansfield

On Friday and Saturday the Salem Tigers played two doubleheaders against Mansfield University. Salem managed to split the first two Friday games against the Mountaineers, dropping the opening game of the series 6-2, but they made an impressive comeback in game 2 with a 5-0 win. Day 2 was just as competitive with the Tigers only going down 3-2, then taking a 4-1 loss in the second game.

Story courtesy salemtigers.com/Image courtesy Erin Zappia/Salem Athletics

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.

Langley, Zacharias Garner POW Honors

MACU’s Colin Langley and Salem’s Kaiden Zacharias led their teams to victories this past week and in doing so earned accolades from the New South Conference.

Kaiden Zacharias
Colin Langley

Langley earned the Pitcher of the Week award with an 8-7 conference win for the Mustangs over Virginia State as he went 6.1 innings, giving up just one earned run off of 6 hits. He also recorded 7 Ks.

Meanwhile, Zacharias had 7 hits, 2 SBs, and 6 RBIs to help the Tigers win a series against preseason #7 West Chester. Kaiden is currently hitting .333 with 18 RBI and 14SBs. For his productive work, Zacharias is our NSAC Player of the Week.

Congrats to both Colin and Kaiden!

Honorable Mention: Jalyn Lee, MACU; Jaryd Lund, Salem

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.