Box Score ATLANTA, GA – The Trojans won big to open their season against CAU, 12-4. The squad gathered 12 hits compared to the Panthers five as VSU also drew 19 walks.


Much like last year, the RBI machine in Joshua Tayman drove in the season's first run as Tahraun Hammond come in to score to make it 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning.
 
After CAU struck out the side, they found momentum that carried over into the next half inning. The Panthers would go on to score two runs off a double that cleared the base paths to make the score 2-1 in the bottom of the third inning.
 
After another scoreless half inning for the Trojans, the Panthers added to their lead with a blooper into the shallow left center field to make the score 3-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning.
 
Feeling the pressure, VSU was able to get on the board thanks to a Dawsyn Hock Walk that scored Hammond. The next at-bat, Jack Newman hit a sacrifice fly ball into center field that scored Emmett Jefferson to tie the ball game at 3-3 in the top of the fifth inning.
 
The Panthers would go on to score on a wild pitch to bring the score to 4-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning.
 
The Trojans would start working on the CAU lead as Avante Banks scored on error made by the pitcher. With two outs, Newman drew a walk to score Hammond. On the next at-bat, Jaylen Lovett scored Jefferson on a walk. The Trojans went up 6-4 in the top of the sixth inning.
 
After a scoreless half-inning from the Panthers, Hammond doubled in to left field to score Banks to increase the lead to three. Hammond would eventually come around to score on a wild pitch. Tayman found room in left field for a single to bring Jefferson around to score. Morris Ford, Jr. singled into center field to score Ricky Jones. Miles Burton was able draw a walk to score Kevon Wharton to extend the VSU lead to 11-4 in the top of the seventh inning.
 
After a scoreless inning, the Trojans added security as Miles Burton sent a ball up the middle to center field to score Ford, Jr which made the score 12-4 . After Rashard Miller struck out two of the last three batters, the Trojans were able to claim the first game of the three-game series.


Top Performers
Tahraun Hammond: 3-5, Walk, RBI, 4 Runs
Emmett Jefferson: 2-4, 3 Runs
Joshua Taymman: 1-5, 2 RBI, Walk
Ricky Jones: 2-5, Run
Nicholas Woolfolk: W, 7 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs, 5 Hits, 9 Strikeouts
 

Up Next
The Trojans will be back on to field tomorrow Sunday, February 6 at 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.to complete the three-game series.