ETTRICK, VA - Coach
Merrill Morgan and the Virginia State University Baseball team are excited and optimistic about the 2023 Baseball season. VSU will open the 2023 season by traveling down to Sumter, SC for their season opener against Morris College Friday, February 3 at 1:00 p.m. The squad will make their way down to Savannah State the very next for a date with the second ranked Tigers (Black College Nines Preseason Ranking) on Saturday, February 4 at 11:00 a.m. then Sunday, February 5 at 12:00 p.m. The Trojans will be a member of the New South Conference comprised of small colleges in North Carolina and Virginia. VSU will be the hosts of the New South Conference Tournament from May 5 – May 7.
After a phenomenal freshman campaign,
Tahraun Hammond is back and ready to lead his team in the batter's box as well as the mound after a phenomenal first season with ended with an invitation to the HBCU All-Star game at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. Hammond led the team in a heap of categories such as batting average (3.69), runs (37), hits (48) and doubles (14). Veteran slugger
Ricky Jones is ready to make an even bigger impact this season after leading the team with a whopping five homeruns and 34 RBI last season while batting a .364. Catcher
Dawsyn Hock is also returning for his final season after batting a .347 along with 23 RBI.
Avante Banks and
Christian Henderson will see their roles increase as well as after they both ended the season with over a .260 batting average. After missing last season former freshman sensation
Robert Hatcher is back in the pitching rotation after posting a 3.46 ERA along with eight strikeouts in just 11 innings pitched. After leading the team with 12-of-13 stolen bases last season,
David Johnson will expand his talents to the mound this season as well.
Next Five Matchups
- Feb. 3 at Morris College (SC) @ 1:00 p.m.
- Feb. 4-5 at Savannah State @ 11:00 a.m. | 12:00 p.m.
- Feb. 11-12 vs. Lock Haven @ 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. | 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
- Feb. 17-18 vs. Alliance 3:00 p.m. | 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
- Feb. 21 vs. Northern Vermont University – Lyndon
Black College World Series
Black College Championships, LLC will be presenting the third annual Black College World Series on May 10-13, 2022, once again in conjunction with the city of Montgomery, Alabama and the Montgomery Biscuits baseball organization. Each team will also receive an invitation to the Black College World Series Banquet Presented by Black College Nines as well. The series will feature HBCU baseball teams from the NCAA Division II and teams from the NAIA to compete to crown a black college national champion among the non-NCAA Division I baseball programs. A polling committee, from the 30 HBCU "small school" programs playing NCAA Division II and NAIA baseball this season, will select the schools.
