ETTRICK, VA  – The Virginia State University baseball team (5-10) will be back at Whaley Colbert field to face Mid-Atlantic Christian in a three-game series for their fifth consecutive home stand this season. Last time out, the Trojans were held to just one run as they lost 1-7 in the first game. In game two, Manfield bested the Trojans 2-5. On Sunday, the Trojans took a pair of one-point losses, 2-3 in the first game and 4-5 in the second game to close the series 0-4.


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 home runs (2), batting average (.462), RBI (11) as well as hits (24), total bases (36), slugging percentage (.692), triples (1) and at-bats (52). Jones has collected seven multi-hit games in the season and ranks 39^th in the country in batting average. The super freshman, Tahruan Hammond, currently leads the team in runs (14), walks (17), OPS (1.245), doubles (6), on-base percentage (.609) and steals (5-of-6). His on-base percentage ranks him 15^th in the country. Hammond also has a lively arm on the mound as the reliever has accounted for nine strikeouts while giving up just three hits. Chase Moore missed the season opening series but has since accrued eight hits in just 25 at-bats (.320/BA) while driving in five runs and scored five himself. The Trojans currently have three players, who have at least 20 at-bats, that maintain a batting average of .300 or better. The team hits .283 from the plate with an on-base percentage of .419. The pitching rotation has been keeping the base paths vacant this season as they allow just 4.31 earned runs per contest and have not allowed an opponent to score 10 runs or more. Nicholas Woolfolk and Grayson "Cole" Spain are proven to be a two-headed monster on the mound as Woolfolk leads the team with a two wins while maintaining an impressive 3.09 ERA in 32 innings while Spain leads with 49 strikeouts which, ranks him ninth in the country.  Against CAU, Woolfolk earned a career-high nine strikeouts as Spain earned a season-high 14 strikeouts against Davis & Elkins. Woolfolk is tied for 18^th in the country in innings pitched with 32.0 while also tying for 11^th in complete games with two. Spain has his name all over the country's pitching statistics as he ties for 11^th with Woolfolk in compete games. He also ties for 16^th in innings pitched with 33.2, ranks 36^th in strikeouts per nine innings with 13.10 and 45^th in hits allowed per game with 5.61. Avante Banks leads the infield with 59 put outs so far this season while also maintaining a .294 batting average, which ranks him fourth on the team. Ricky Jones is also a vacuum in the outfield as well with 37 put outs on the season. Tahraun Hammond has assisted on the most outs on the team this season with 25.  


Weekend Schedule
Saturday, March 19
Sunday, March 20
Virginia State vs. Mid-Atlantic Christian
Day One – 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. *Ettrick, VA *Whaley Colbert Field at VSU Ballpark
Day Two – 3:00 p.m.


About Mid-Atlantic Christian
The Mid-Atlantic Christian Mustangs are 5-17 on the season after dropping their last two games to Bucks County Community College. Offensively, the Mustangs hit a subpar .245 from the plate with a .333 on-base percentage. MACU has driven 46 runs home with five home runs on the season. While the squad hits at an okay clip, they have struck out 145 times while only drawing 53 walks. Caleb Whitley leads the team with a crushing .519 batting average. He also leads his squad in hits, runs, at-bats, doubles, stolen bases, slugging percentage, home runs, and on-base percentage. Whitley has earned two or more hits in seven games this season. Will Warren leads the squad in RBI with 11 so far while hitting .342 from the plate and tying for first on the team with a pair of home runs. The MACU pitching rotation gives away 6.7 earned runs per contest while giving up 124 runs with 68 strikeouts and 73 walks this season. Teams have hit 15 homers against the rotation. Dalon Arrington, a freshman, is the ace of the rotation as he leads the team in innings pitched (32.0) and strikeouts (22). Arrington is 3-1 on the year and maintains a 6.47 ERA.

 
Series History
This matchup will make the first meeting between the Trojans and the Mustangs after having what would have been the inaugural matchup last year canceled.
 
  
Next Five Matchups

• Mar. 19-20 vs. Mid-Atlantic Christian
• Mar. 29 at Barton
• Apr. 1 at Newport News Apprentice School
• Apr. 6 vs. Barton
• Apr. 9 at Mid-Atlantic Christian