SALEM, WV- Saturday's doubleheader between Virginia State and Salem University featured one-score games entering the sixth inning but the Tigers pulled away  to secure a pair of wins over the visiting Trojans.

In the first game, Virginia State found themselves trailing 5-4 entering the sixth inning before the Salem added three runs as insurance. In the second game, the Tigers struck sixth inning magic again, flipping a 4-2 Trojans lead into a 5-4 Salem victory.

The pair of losses drop the Trojans to an 18-24 overall record.
 
Game 1 Final Score: Trojans 4 – Tigers 8
Player Highlights: Avante Banks went two-for-three with an RBI and a run scored.
 
How It Happened: The Trojans held a brief 4-2 advantage entering the middle of the third inning. Virginia State scored four runs on four singles as Ryan Messer, David Johnson, Ricky Jones, and Banks all earning hits. Banks, Jones, and Liam Simpson earned RBIs and Johnson was able to score on a wild pitch.

Unfortunately, the Tigers responded immediately with a three-run third inning, which included a two-run homerun to reclaim the lead.

The Trojans' fourth inning started off promising with Justis Crawley leading off a walk and Jody Morris following up with a single. However, the inning ended with Crawley and Morrism left on base.

What could go wrong, went wrong for Virginia State in the bottom of the sixth. Two Trojans errors, a passed ball, and a hit by pitch led to four Salem runs.

Along with Banks, Johnson also had two hits. Joseph Hastings started on the mound for the Trojans, going five innings and striking out four batters while allowing four earned runs.

Game 2 Final Score: Trojans 4 – Tigers 5
Player Highlights: Jody Morris scored two runs and recorded a hit and a walk.
 
How It Happened: This time, Virginia State was ahead 4-3 entering the bottom of the sixth inning. The Trojans scored two runs in the top of the sixth to extend their lead to 4-1 but Salem stole a win by bringing home four runs in the bottom of the sixth.

In the sixth, Ricky Jones had a two-out single and scored in Morris' at-bat following a Tigers error and Morris scored on a Justis Crawley single. 

It was another tough bottom sixth for the Trojans as they committed two errors, a balk, and surrendered two doubles, a single, and a walk, which helped Salem score four runs. 

Liam Simpson opened the scoring affair in the first inning with a homerun. Morris had Virginia State leading 2-1 after two innings.

After reaching base on a hit, Morris advanced to second base on an error and then scored using sacrifice bunts from Pedro Mendez and Crawley.

On the mound for the Trojans was Christian Henderson, who went the full six innings and gave up just six hits and two earned runs.

Up Next: The Trojans and the Tigers are back in action Sunday, April 30 with a doubleheader starting at noon. 

For more information on VSU Athletics, follow Trojans Athletics on Twitter @VSUsports, or call 804-524-5030.