Softball 3/29/2022 7:44:00 PM

Trojans Look to Use Recent Momentum to Earn Upset Over Norfolk State

ETTRICK, VA – The VSU softball team returns after their best performance in the CIAA Softball Round-Up since 2018 when they went 6-0. The squad went 5-1 with back-to-back shutouts against Livingstone (8-0) and St. Augustine's (15-0). The Trojans were undefeated heading into the final day ahead of a huge matchup against Claflin for first place. VSU unfortunately lost 5-6 in extra innings but bounced back against Johnson C. Smith 8-5.

Head Coach Jameshia Smith and Coach Rasheeda Crew currently lead a squad that is scattered throughout the national rankings after coming off a miraculous performance in the CIAA Softball Round-Up. The Women's softball team is currently ranked third in the nation and first in the conference in batting average (.384), 14^th in doubles per game (1.94), 16^th in on-base percentage (.419), 36^th in points per game (6.44), ninth in slugging percentage (.567) and 10^th in triples per game (.56). The Trojans are led by veteran Samantha Cunningham who leads the team in batting average (.538), OPS (1.437), doubles (7), ties for first in home runs, ties for first in RBI (14), total bases (33), on-base percentage (.591) and slugging percentage (.826). Cunningham is now third in the nation in batting average, fourth in the nation in on-base percentage, and 24^th in slugging percentage. One of the freshman sensations on this team, Hailey Darrington, currently hits .476 while leading the team in stolen bases going 9-of-9 on the base paths with a big fly on the season. Two-time CIAA Rookie of the Week, Alaijah Pratt, leads the team with 48 at-bats, 22 hits, 18 runs, and ties for first with three triples and 14 RBI. Pratt also ties for 39^th in the nation in batting average with a .458. Macy Beville wields a big bat as well as she also has a homer on the season batting a .447, which ranks her 35^th in the nation. Beville also has 10 RBI so far and adds another 10 herself. Alani Horton is currently batting a .422 and ties for first on the team in RBI with 14. Of 12 players on the team, seven players average a .300 batting average or better. The pitching rotation averages just 3.61 earned runs per contest which ranks them second in the conference. Alaijah Pratt has been lights out this season as a 3.40 ERA ranks her first on the team while she also leads the team in wins with four. Pratt is also 34^th in the nation in the fewest walks allowed per game with 1.00 and 47th in the nation in strikeout-to-walk ratio with 5.60. Desmyn Owens is the ace of the squad as she leads the team in innings pitched with 39, batting average for opposing hitters with .253, and 37 strikeouts. Julia Jones leads the outfield with 35 putouts while Samantha Cunningham leads with 30 assisted outs on the season. The Trojans will look to clean up their play defensively as they have 28 so far this season.

Weekend Schedule
Wednesday, March 29
Virginia State at Norfolk State
2:00 – 4:00 p.m. *Norfolk, VA *NSU Softball Field

About Norfolk State
The Norfolk State Spartans are 16-15 overall and 3-3 in the MEAC and look to redeem themselves after dropping 2-of-3 games in their most recent series against Morgan State. The Spartans are an even 10-10 at home this season. The Spartans bat a decent .279 from the plate with a .379 on-base percentage. Kenna Higa currently leads her team in batting average (.368), doubles (7), slugging percentage (.647), on-base percentage (.494), OPS (1.141) and ties for first in home runs (4). Tuli Losefa is also very dangerous in the batters box this season leading the team in hit in RBI with 28, total bases with 45 and walks with 14. Losefa also ties for first in home runs with four. Alexis Robinson is the ace of the rotation as Robinson is an insane 9-2 on the season while giving up just 2.52 earned runs per contest. Robinson had pitched 61 innings this season with 44 strikeouts and 13 walks. Batters hit just .247 against her as she has given up 59 hits this season. She has earned a season-high four strikeouts in back-to-back games against St. Bonaventure and Central Connecticut.

Series History
This will be the first matchup between the Spartans and the Trojans.

Next Five Matchups