Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SALEM, VA (April 30, 2018)- The Virginia State University softball team, under the leadership of first year head coach Lynne Gilbert, faced the Broncos of Fayetteville State University. In the single game matchup, the Trojans fell to FSU with a final score of 10-3. The loss moves VSU to the eliminating bracket where they will faces the Bears of Shaw University. The Trojans were not able to take down the Bears, with an 11-7 loss,

THE BASICS
SCORE| Virginia State 3, Fayetteville State 10
               Virginia State 7, Shaw 11
VSU RECORD | 17-16 overall, 11-5 CIAA
GAME LOCATION| Salem, VA (Moyer Park)
 
GAME VS. FAYETTEVILLE STATE
After a scoreless first inning from both teams, Samantha Cunningham put the visiting VSU Trojans on the board with 2 run off of her left field homer, bring Kennedy Presson across home plate. The FSU Broncos answered back with six runs at the bottom of the second to take a 6-2 lead over the Trojans. Dominique Mulero advanced home at the top of the third to bring the score to 6-3 in favor of FSU. The Broncos answered back at the bottom of the third with a run to extend their lead. VSU was not able to stop the Broncos from adding 3 runs at the bottom of the 5^th inning, hence falling 10-3 in the 7 inning matchup.

The loss moved the Trojans to the losing bracket, where they would take on the Bears of Shaw University.
 
GAME VS. SHAW
In the opening inning of the elimination round matchup, Shaw jumped ahead with 4 runs. Innings 2 and 3 breezed by, giving the Trojans a chance to tie the game at the bottom of the 4^th with a homer by Vanessa Ruby, bringing home Samantha Cunningham and India Holmes, and an additional run by Amirah Chaney.

The Bears jumped ahead of the Trojans with a combine 7 runs in the 5^th and 6^th inning, taking an 11-4 lead. VSU worked to battle back to at the bottom of the 7^th inning with another homer by Vanessa Ruby, bringing home India Holmes and Dominique Mulero. The additional 3 runs were not enough for the Trojans to secure the game, falling to the Shaw Bears, 11-7.
 
SEASON REVIEW
The Trojans worked remarkably hard this season, on and off the field. From a 17-16 overall season, to having the highest VSU team GPA, the Trojans softball team has a lot great accomplishments to be proud of.

Looking ahead to next season the VSU Trojan softball team reevaluate their 2018 season to have a strong comeback.

For the most up-to-date information on VSU softball please visit www.govsutrojans.com and follow Trojans Athletics on Twitter @VSUsports.