CARY, NC- The VSU Trojans baseball team survived the first round of the CIAA Baseball Championship by taking down the Chowan University Hawks on April 30 with a final score of 8-7.

Junior Jay Dee Johnson, III is credited for the win after pitching the first 4 innings allowing 9 hits, 7 runs and giving 2 strikeouts. Johnson currently has an 8-1 win-loss record this season. Junior Colton Gunn took the mound for the save for the remaining 5 innings allowing 2 hits and giving 5 strikeouts.

The Hawks had 4 pitchers to take the mound. Of those players, Evan Hart took the loss allowing 4 runs on 9 hits.

Gunn led the Trojans with 3 RBI's while senior Nicholas Christopher tallied 3 runs and 2 RBI's.

The score was tied 7-7 at the beginning of the 8^th inning. A fly out to center field by senior Zachary Jordan, advanced junior Tashaun Taylor home to break the tie.

VSU kept the Hawks down offensively to seal the 8-7 win after 9 innings.

The Trojans are currently 24-16 on the season, 8-8 in the conference.

Round 2 of the CIAA Baseball Championship will begin at 1 p.m. on May 1 as the Trojans set to face the Winston-Salem State University Rams.

For more information on the VSU baseball team, visit www.govsutrojans.com.