ETTRICK, VA – The Virginia State University baseball team is off to their best start since 2015 when they started their season off 4-1 back then as well. The squad is currently the number one non-division one HBCU in the country according to the Black College Nines power rankings. After a week's rest, the Trojan will be back in Whaley Colbert field on Saturday, February 19 for a doubleheader against the Lions of Lincoln University (Pa.). First pitch for the first game is set for 1:00 p.m. while the second game will start at 3:00 p.m.
Ricky Jones leads the team at the plate, as he was able to put a jolt into the baseball twice in game two of the CAU series. Jones leads the squad in homeruns (2), Batting Average (.591), tied for first in runs (8), RBI (7) as well as hits (13). The freshman Tahruan Hammond has collected 10 hits in just 18 at-bats, as he is second on the team in batting average (.556) and hits while leading the team in walks (8). As the Trojans currently have five players that maintain a batting average of .300 or better, the team hits on astounding .341 from the plate with an on-base percentage of .487. The pitching rotation is off to a strong start allowing just 2.97 earned runs per contest.
Nicholas Woolfolk and Grayson "Cole" Spain are proven to be a two-headed monster on the mound as Woolfolk leads the team with a ridiculous 1.29 ERA in 14 innings while Spain leads with 17 strikeouts. Against CAU, Woolfolk earned a career-high nine strikeouts.
Avante Banks proves to be deadly on the infield with 23 put outs so far this season while also maintaining a .421 batting average, which ranks him third on the team. Jones is also a vacuum in the outfield as well with 14 put outs on the season.
Weekend Schedule
Saturday, February 19
Virginia State University Trojans vs. Lincoln University (Pa.)
1:00 – 3:00 p.m. *Ettrick, VA *Whaley Colbert at VSU Ballpark
About Lincoln (Pa.)
The Lincoln (Pa.) Lions are 0-4 on the season after falling short to Post University in a doubleheader while also falling to Bluefield State College in the opening doubleheader of the season. That being said, the squad played the defending HBCU champions tough even though they dropped both games. The Lions struggle from the plate hitting just .216 while accumulating 25 hits so far this season. Lincoln (Pa.) drew only nine walks and struck out 47 times. The pitching rotation got off to a rather rough start to the season leaving North Carolina with an ERA of 6.52. The LHU pitchers gave up 21 earned runs and walked 18 batters. Jake Mastillo totes the most powerful swing on the team as he leads the squad in batting average (.357) and hits (5). Gabriel Sanchez is the ace of the rotation as he has pitched five innings and leads the team in ERA (3.60), strikeouts (8) and allows batters to hit just a .158 facing him. He has only given up three hits and two earned runs
Series History
The Trojans completely dominate the Lions with a record of 30-1 in matchups dating back to 2012. VSU currently boasts a nine game win-streak as they average 10.1 runs against the Lions. The largest margin of victory came in 2020 when the Trojans beat down the Lions, 23-6.
Next Five Matchups
- Feb. 19 vs. Lincoln (Pa.)
- Feb. 26-27 vs. Davis & Elkins
- Mar. 5-6 vs. Mansfield
- Mar. 16 at Christendom
- Mar. 19-20 vs. Mid-Atlantic Christian
