ETTRICK, VA  – The Trojans were able to avoid the shut out after winning game four on a walk-off single off the bat of Jaylen Lovett against Bluefield State College. The two-headed monster that is Nicholas Woolfolk and Grayson "Cole" Spain  teamed up for a no hitter in the win while Spain earned a season-high 13 strikeouts. While the Trojans did come out of the drama filled game four with a win, games one, two and three were rough for the home team. BSC took game one 4-0 as the Trojans were able to muster only three hits. Game two saw the Big Blue control the game and walk away victorious 8-3. Sunday started with BSC thrashing the Trojans 9-1. VSU was able to avoid a 10-game losing streak with a base hit to win game four 6-5



Game 1
The Big Blue got off to a rather fast start as a triple into the right center field gap gave them their first run of the contest. BSC scored on a passed ball right after to make the score 2-0 in the top of the first inning. The top of the fourth inning saw the Big Blue double into the right center field gap to take a 4-0 lead after two runs came in to score. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Bryce Wilmoth doubled into left field to put Nicholas Woolfolk on third with two outs but were unable to capitalize on runners in scoring position. BSC would hold on to the lead to earn the shutout against VSU 4-0.  

 
Top Performers
Tahraun Hammond: 1-3
Nicholas Woolfolk: 1-2
Bryce Wilmoth: 1-2
Nicholas Woolfolk: 7 Innings pitched, 2 Earned runs, 6 Hits, 8 Strikeouts, 3 Walks


 
Game 2
Much like game one, the Big Blue was able to take an early lead 1-0 with a single up the middle in the top of the first inning. The top of the second inning saw the Big Blue extend their lead to 2-0 after scoring on a passed ball. Chase Moore gave the Trojans their first run of the day with a swinging bunt to the pitcher he was able to beat out. Avante Banks scored to the make it 2-1 in bottom of the third inning. After Nicholas Woolfolk laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Grayson "Cole" Spain over to third, he scored on a passed ball to make the score two all heading into the top of the fifth inning. The top of the fifth inning saw the Big Blue take the lead once again on a single into left field. BSC would later double through the middle to score two more runs to make it 5-2. The top of the sixth inning started with BSC scoring a run on a triple deep into the left center field gap. The next-at bat, they scored on a ground out to third base to make the score 7-2. The Trojans tried to fight back as David Johnson earned the RBI after beating out a bunt back to the pitcher to make the score 7-3 in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Big Blue was able to add to their lead after tagging up on a line out to center field to make the score 8-3 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning.


Top Performers
Tahraun Hammond: 1-3, Walk
Chase Moore: 1-3, RBI
Ricky Jones: 1-2, Run
Dawsyn Hock: 1-2
David Johnson: 1-1, RBI
Morris Ford, Jr.: 1-1
Andrew Riddick: 4 Innings Pitched, 3 Earned Runs, 5 Strikeouts, 2 Walks



Game 3
After a slow start to the day from both sides, BSC struck first on a throwing error made by the pitcher. An at-bat later, the Big Blue added one on a sacrifice fly ball to center field. They went on to add one more on a single through the left side to make the score 3-0 heading into the bottom of the third inning. After a scoreless fourth inning, BSC added to their lead with a sacrifice fly ball into left field. With one out, the Big Blue scored on a double into the left center field gap followed by a big fly over the left field fence that scored a pair of runs. The score was 7-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning. The top of the sixth inning saw the Big Blue add insurance runs with a single into right center field and a single into left center field to make the score 9-0. After two walks and a single to load the bases Morris Ford, Jr. scored on a passed ball to avoid the shutout in the bottom of the seventh inning 9-1.


Top Performers
Ricky Jones: 1-3
Dawsyn Hock: 1-3
Carl "Chip" Granderson : 1-3
Avante Banks : 2-3
Keith Wallace: 2 Innings Pitched, 0 Hits, 0 Earned runs, 2 strikeouts, 0 Walks
 


Game 4
For the first time all weekend, the Trojans were able to get on the board first after Ryan Messer was able to bring David Johnson in to score to make it 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning. The bottom of the third inning saw Tahraun Hammond drive David Johnson in to score for the second time with a single into center field. Jaylen Lovett earned an RBI in the inning as he singled through the left side to score Hammond to make it 3-0 in the bottom of the third inning. With eight strikeout to this point for Grayson "Cole" Spain , BSC scored their first run of the game on an error made by the second baseman to make it 3-1 in the top of the fourth inning. In the top of the seventh inning, BSC was able to tie the game after two runs came around to score on an error by the center fielder. The Big Blue would score another pair on a couple of walks. Bluefield State scored four runs on no hits and an error to take a two-run lead, 5-3. The bottom of the seventh inning saw David Johnson get the Trojans started with a single to second base followed by a single into center field by Avante Banks. Tahraun Hammond was able to move the runners over after he grounded out to first base. Ricky Jones came in to pinch hit in a huge spot for his team with runners on second and third with one out. Jones showed the ice in his veins when he singled up the middle to score both runs to tie the game at five. Jones was able to advance to second on a ground out and steal third to give Jaylen Lovett a chance to win the game with two outs. Jaylen Lovett hit a swinging bunt to the pitcher in which he could not make a play on. This allowed Jones to come in to score while Lovett reached first safely to win game four 6-5.

Top Performers
David Johnson: 3-3, 3 Runs, Walk, 2 Stolen Bases
Avante Banks: 1-2, Run, Walk,
Tahraun Hammond: 1-3, Run, RBI
Ricky Jones: 1-1, Game Winning Run, 2 RBI, Stolen Base
Jaylen Lovett: 2-4, 2 RBI, Game Winning RBI
Kevon Wharton: 1-2
Grayson "Cole" Spain : 6.1 Innings Pitched, 0 Hits, 2 Earned runs, 13 strikeouts (Most in recent history)
Nicholas Woolfolk: 0.2 Innings Pitched, 0 Hits, 1 Strikeout


Up Next
Virginia State will prepare for their last three-game series against Salem on Saturday and Sunday April 30 – May 1 starting at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. on Saturday and 12:00 p.m. on Sunday. Senior will be honor prior to first pitch on Sunday.