ATLANTA, GA  – The Trojans are coming back to the 804 victorious after sweeping the Panthers of Clark Atlanta University. The first game of the day was a 13-inning barn burner in which VSU came away with the win, 8-7. The second game of the day, the Trojans routed the Panthers 17-4.


Game 1
The top of the first inning started off very promising after Tahraun Hammond started the game with a double but was left stranded on third base. While Cole Spain was able to strike out four batters in two innings, he gave up five runs in the bottom of the second inning to give CAU the lead, 5-0. After a scoreless inning, Ricky Jones provided a spark to the team as he belted one deep over the left field fence to put the Trojans on the board 5-1 in the top of the fourth inning. Through two innings, Spain was able to keep the Panthers off the board. In the top of the sixth inning, Mile Burton spanked a ball to center field to score Jones for the second time in the game. Later that inning, Christian Henderson drove in David Johnson to make the score 5-3 in the bottom of the third inning. Following a double to right field by Emmett Jefferson, Ricky Jones homered for the second time to tie the game at five in the top of the seventh inning. After the Trojans left eight runners on base the in past four innings, Johnson came around to score for the second time in the game. The Trojans were able to gain the lead 6-5 in the top of the 11^th inning. In the bottom of the 11^th inning, the Panthers would match the Trojans with a run of their own to bring the score to 6 all. The top of the 12^th inning saw Nicholas Woolfolk come around to score on a Henderson walk to go up 7-6 in the top of the 12^th inning. While Rashard Miller was able to close out the inning with a strike out, CAU was able to step on home plate to tie the game at seven in the bottom of the 12^th inning. In the ensuing inning, Johnson hit a hard grounder to score Kevon Wharton to give the Trojans the lead 8-7. Miller was able to finally close the game out in a 1-2-3 inning to give the Trojans the win in game 1, 8-7.  
 
Top Performers
Ricky Jones: 4-7, Walk, 3 Runs, 3 RBI, 2 HR
David Johnson: 2-4, Walk, 2 Runs
Christian Henderson: 1-3, 3 Walks, 2 RBI
Avante Banks: 3-7, Walk
Grayson "Cole" Spain : 9 Innings Pitched, 8 hits allowed, 12 Strikeouts, 2 Walks
Rashard Miller: W, 3 Innings Pitched, 3 hits allowed, Walk, allowed, 3 Strikeouts.
 
 
Game 2
The Trojans carried the momentum gained from the previous game as Joshua Tayman got the Trojans on the board first with a single into left field that scored Hammond and Jones to go up 2-0. Woolfolk was able to score Jefferson on a sacrifice fly ball to center field to go up 3-0. Avante Banks hit a blooper into center field to score Tayman to move the the score to 4-0 in the top of the first inning. The Panthers were able to fight back with a sacrifice fly ball and a single to bring the score to 4-2. Jones would go on to score Hammond on a hard ground ball. Jones would go on the score on a passed ball. Burton would score Jefferson on a sacrifice fly ball to make the score 7-2 heading into the bottom of the third inning. The third inning saw Henderson score on a ground ball to shortstop to add to the lead 8-2. The Panthers would go on to score a run in the bottom of the third inning 8-3. Henderson singled into center field which scored Banks to make the score 9-3. The power swing of Jones scored Hammond and Henderson as he doubled into left field to make the score 11-3 in the top of the fourth inning. The top of the fifth inning saw Woolfolk score Hammond on a ground ball to the shortstop. Henderson would go on to score Banks on a Henderson sacrifice fly ball to make the score 13-3 in the top of the fifth inning. Thomas Chandler would provide pop off the bench as he hit a line drive into center field to score Burton. Chandler came around to score after Banks singled on a hard grounder to the short stop to go up 15-3 in the top of the sixth inning. Wharton would bring Jones in to score on a double while Wharton came around to score as Chandler singled into left field to make the score 17-3. After CAU would score on a double in the bottom of the seventh inning, it would bring us to the final score of 17-4.


Top Performers
Tahraun Hammond: 2-5, 3 Runs, Walk, RBI.
Ricky Jones: 3-5 2B, 3 RBI, 3 Runs, 2 Stolen Bases, Walk.
Avante Banks: 4-5 2 RBI, 2 Runs, 2 RBI, Walk.
Joshua Tayman: 2-5, 2 RBI.
Thomas Chandler: 2-2, 2 RBI.
Tyquon Wilkins: W, 7 Innings Pitched, 4 Earned Runs, 2 Walks, 7 Strikeouts


Up Next
Virginia State's home opener will feature doubleheaders on February 12-13. First pitch times for both days will be 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.