ETTRICK, VA- The Virginia State University Trojans (17-10, 10-5 CIAA) were victorious over the Benedict College Tigers (13-16, 9-3 SIAC) on March 26 at the Whaley Colbert Field with a 9 inning score of 7-6.

The Tigers were determined to defeat the home team, but the Trojans ran in to make several important plays to take the win.

Junior Nicholas Christopher (Dinwiddie, VA) led Virginia State with two RBI's. His teammates, freshman David Markins (Colonial Heights, VA), sophomore Colton Gunn (Dinwiddie, VA) and sophomore Jamison Griffin (Newport News, VA) all came in with single RBI's.

Each inning was intense as the teams would break even to tie the score. The Trojans broke the 1-1 tie with a run by sophomore TaShaun Taylor (Richmond, VA) in the third inning and junior Joshua Markins (Colonial Heights) in the fifth inning, for a score of 3-1.

Junior pitcher William Tapp (Dinwiddie, VA) started the Trojans off in the first six innings with six strike outs and only allowing three hits, one run and one error. At the start of the seventh inning, senior pitcher Maso Cotton (Vauxhall, NJ) relieved Tapp. After a few plays, pitcher Colton Gunn stepped in for Cotton.

The Tigers tied the score 3-3 in the seventh inning and came back with two additional runs in the eighth inning.

Looking ahead to a win, Virginia State ran in four Trojans at the bottom of the eighth, to have a 7-5 lead.

It was anyone's game going into the top of the ninth inning. The Tigers managed to slide past the Trojans for a run, bring the score to 7-6. The Trojans put an end to the game with two ground outs and catch at second base by junior Tyler Coleman (Chesterfield, VA).

Gunn took the pitching win with three strike outs and only three errors and four hits.

Virginia State will take the field on March 29 and 30 for a two day double header conference game against the Falcons of St. Augustine's University at Whaley Colbert Field.