Salem’s Offense Comes Alive in Sweep of Bluefield State

NUTTER FORT, W.V. – After their unsuccessful midweek contest against Davis & Elkins, the Salem Tigers baseball team played host to the Big Blue of Bluefield State for a 3-game series and came out of the weekend with a sweep of the Big Blue.

Salem 6, Bluefield State 0

In the first contest of the series, Salem met with the Big Blue at DCHS field in West Union for a doubleheader. Offensively, Sam Schmitt opened up the scoring in the game with a home run in the 2nd inning. The game remained at a tight 1-0 Salem lead until the 6th when the Tigers added 5 runs. It started with a Ben Matos 2 RBI single, and then a balk call on the Big Blue pitcher allowed Jose Lojo to advance from third for the third run of the inning. Luis Angarita then knocked another in with an RBI triple. The final run of the inning and the contest came from a masterfully executed double steal play allowed Luis Angarita to steal home to make it 6-0. On the pitcher’s mound, Salem benefitted from a great performance from Jaryd Lund, who got the complete game win by allowing just 2 hits and logging 3 strikeouts. 

Salem 4, Bluefield State 2

In Game 2, the second leg of the doubleheader in West Union was a tight game early on. The Big Blue scored 2 in the top of the first, but Salem responded in kind with 2 of their own. The first came from a Kaiden Zacharias single to bring in Luis Angarita. After that, the Tigers were able to fill the bases, and then a walk of Sam Schmitt by the Bluefield State pitcher allowed Zacharias to bring in the 2nd run of the inning. However, with a tied ball game, the pressure was still on for the Tigers. They broke the deadlock with another RBI single in the 2nd, and this time it was off of the bat of Nathan Kuhn to make it 3-2. Salem kept control of the game through the following innings, and added one more insurance run in the 4th when Luis Angarita made it home once again off of a Brett Ehr groundout. From there, the Salem defense held, and the Tigers earned a 4-2 win. Another win and another great pitching performance aided the Tigers in the victory. This time, it came from Sam Schmitt, who logged 9 strikeouts in 7 innings of work for another complete game win for the Tigers. 

Salem 18, Bluefield State 7

For the final contest of the series, the Tigers returned to their home field of Frank Loria Memorial field for a Sunday afternoon contest. This time, Salem really showed off their offensive capabilities with a total of 18 runs in the game. From the plate, Salem put up a whopping 18 hits, including 2 home runs from Nathan Kuhn, 1 home run from Trey Hissam, a pair of triples from Luis Angarita and Kaiden Zacharias, and another pair of doubles from Kuhn and Angarita. On top of uncorking their best offensive day of the season, Salem benefited from another strong pitching performance. This time, it was a group effort with starter Tyler Sammons, Travis Lavendier, Ben Sitarenios, Jhayden Raineri, and Keegan Oliver combining for a total of 10 strikeouts. Tyler Sammons also logged his first win of the season. 

With this weekend sweep of the Big Blue, Salem (8-16 overall, 0-0 NSAC) will be looking to double down on this performance in the rematch this week. The Tigers are headed down to Bluefield this time for a midweek road doubleheader starting at 1 PM on March 29th.

Story and image courtesy salemtigers.com

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