Salem Drops Home Match with D&E

NUTTER FORT, W.V. – Salem opened up their week with a game against Davis & Elkins College today at 3pm. Davis & Elkins, another Division II school located only just over an hour from Salem, put up a good performance against the tigers scoring 12 runs to Salem’s 4.
 
The tigers were the first to score in inning 1, Luis Angarita hit a single and was able to steal a base. Nathan Kuhn then hit another single which gave Angarita the opportunity to come home leaving the score 1-0 to Salem. D&E responded to this in the second inning tallying 5 hits and 2 runs. The tigers we able to even the score when Trey Hissam singled bringing home Jacob Hurley. In the third inning D&E scored another 2 runs and Sam Schmitt singled which let Angarita return home for a second time leaving the score 3-4 to D&E. The tigers were unable to score again until the 9th inning when Hayes Lightsey got on base with a single and then scored thanks to a double hit by Aaron Forbes. D&E however put up an extra 3 runs before the 9th and then scored 5 runs in the last inning taking the score to 4-12 to D&E. The tigers will get a chance to redeem themselves against them on April 19th. Their next series will be against Bluefield State University at home on Saturday the 25th of March.

Story and image courtesy salemtigers.com

MACU Takes First NSAC Game of Season 3-2 over Apprentice

HAMPTON, Va. — There is a famous idiom that says, “There is a first time for everything.” For the Mid-Atlantic Christian baseball program, there have been a lot of firsts since the program started in 2020. However, one opponent had always alluded the Mustangs and that was conference rival Apprentice. Over the past three campaigns, the Builders had the Mustangs number, winning all six contests, but that changed on Tuesday afternoon as MACU defeated the reigning USCAA national champions 3-2 at War Memorial Stadium.

The Builders (21-6 overall, 0-1 NSAC) were the first to score, plating a run off a Camden Weston RBI double. MACU (13-18, 1-0) found it’s time to strike in the top of the fifth inning. Back-to-back walks from Apprentice pitching led to Jack Valachovic sacrificing the runners to second and third base with one out on the board. Josiah Collado grounded out to third base but during the play, scored Travis Snell from third. Anthony Torres stepped up to the plate and knocked in the second run of the inning as he sent a single to center field that brought in Elijah Ollman to push the Mustangs ahead 2-1.

Apprentice got back on the board in the seventh as Justin Bradshaw legged it out to first to avoid a double play and plate the tying run, but the Mustangs dug deep and scratched across a run in the top of the eighth as Giovanny Mendez sent a hard RBI single to right field to register the winning run for MACU.

The Builders had chances in the eighth and ninth with runners on second and third in both frames, but MACU answered the call and worked out of each inning unscathed to earn the win.

Story courtesy gomacumustangs.com and gobuilders.com. Image courtesy MACU Athletics

MACU’s Valachovic Named POW

Mid-Atlantic Christian University outfielder Jack Valachovic swung his way into a big week for the Mustangs during their road trip to South Florida, earning NSAC Player of the Week honors.

The sophomore from Cary, North Carolina went 7-13 in the Sunshine State with 3 doubles and 4 RBIs. 

Congrats, Jack!

First NSAC Baseball Matchup of Season to Feature Top Pitchers

HAMPTON, Va. – Defending Small College World Series Champion Apprentice will open conference play this afternoon as it hosts Mid-Atlantic Christian and features two of the top pitchers in the USCAA.

The homestanding Builders (21-5 overall, 0-0 NSAC) will start true freshman Nick Redman, who through 29 innings is 5-0 with an ERA of 0.63, averaging 12.87 strikeouts a game. Additionally, he has allowed only six walks and two earned runs in his appearances so far this season.

The Mustangs (12-16, 0-0) will counter with junior Caleb Whitley, whose 48 strikeouts is second only to Redman’s 50.

The Builders reach the halfway point of the season as the hottest team in the New South with a sparkling 21-5 record, including a 4-game sweep of St. Vincent over the weekend.

The Mustangs are glad to leave Florida where they struggled at 1-5.

First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 pm at War Memorial Stadium in Hampton, Virginia.

Whitley’s No Hitter, Ollman’s 9-10 Earn POW Honors

Mid-Atlantic Christian University senior Caleb Whitley threw the first no-hitter in program history as the Mustangs swept a mid-week doubleheader against Grace Christian, earning Whitley the NSAC Pitcher of the Week Award.

Caleb Whitley

Whitley was efficient and untouchable, accomplishing the feat while only throwing 81 pitches in the 10-0 victory. He registered eight strikeouts while walking zero as he moved his record to 3-2 on the season.

Elijah Ollman

Joining him on the podium this week is teammate Elijah Ollman, who batted 9-10, scored 5 runs, stole 4 bases, and drove in 3 RBIs on the week. For his efforts, Ollman is named the NSAC Player of the Week.

Congrats to both Caleb and Elijah!

Images courtesy gomacumustangs.com

Builders’ Redman, MACU’s Snell Honored

Apprentice lefty Nick Redman and Mid-Atlantic Christian outfielder Travis Snell garnered the NSAC honors for Pitcher and Player of the Week, respectively.

Redman, a true freshman from New Kent, Virginia, has been throwing heat thus far this season for the Builders. In 29 innings, Redman is 5-0 with an ERA of 0.63, averaging 12.87 strikeouts a game, only 6 walks, and has given up only 2 earned runs.

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Meanwhile, Snell, a Mustang sophomore from Mint Hill, North Carolina, went 5 for 12 this past week, scoring 3 runs and 3 RBIs.

Congratulations to Nick and Travis!

Honorable Mention:

  • Caleb Whitley, pitcher, MACU – 6IP, 2ER, 9SOs
  • Keegan Oliver, pitcher, Salem – pitched 6 scoreless innings, 9 Ks, 2 BBs and 5 hits

Images courtesy Apprentice School Athletics and MACU Athletics

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.

Tigers’ Zacharias Earns POW Honors

Salem University’s Kaiden Zacharias had himself a week.

The senior outfielder from Lloydminster, Alberta, Canada recorded 4 stolen bases, 2 doubles, a triple, and a walk-off base hit to secure a 3-games-to-1 series victory over Fairmont State. For his efforts, Kaiden has been named the NSAC Baseball Player of the Week.

Congratulations, Kaiden!

Salem Takes Series with Fairmont State 3-1

NUTTER FORT, W.V. – After Salem’s baseball team fell in some tight games during their opening weekend series with Shippensburg, they were ready to finally get back into the win column in their next series. For that series, they played host to local rival Fairmont State. The Falcons took the opening game of the series on Saturday, but Salem rallied to win the final three games of the series capped with a grueling 12-inning battle on Sunday night.

Story and image courtesy salemtigers.com

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