SALEM, WV- In Sunday's doubleheader, Salem University won the first game against Virginia State in a 3-1 pitcher's duel and used a late-innings barrage in game two to down the Trojans 8-2.
Coron Wallace performed well on the mound for the Trojans in game one, allowing just three hits and three earned runs in six innings but he battled against a Tigers pitching staff that surrendered just three Virginia State hits. Salem's great pitching continued into the second game of the doubleheader, holding the Trojans to just four hits.
The pair of losses drop the Trojans to an 18-26 overall record.
Game 1 Final Score: Trojans 1 – Tigers 3
Player Highlights: Dawsyn Hock snagged a homerun in the fourth inning for the Trojans only score.
How It Happened: All of Salem's offense occurred in the first two innings, which featured three hits and three runs. The Tigers were held without a hit or a run for the remainder of the game.
The Trojans' only run came in the form of a Dawsyn Hock homerun to left field in the fourth inning.
In a pitcher's duel, every run counts and Virginia State left six runners stranded on base. The Trojans left the bases loaded in the second inning, with Christian Henderson on third, Justis Crawley on second, and Bryce Wilmoth on first.
The game ended in the top of the seventh with Crawley on third and Avante Banks at second. The inning started with Crawley earning first base after getting hit by a pitch, followed by a Ryan Messer single.
Hock logged two of the Trojans' three hits.
Game 2 Final Score: Trojans 2 – Tigers 8
Player Highlights: Christian Henderson went one for three at the plate and scored a run.
How It Happened: Salem was holding a 1-0 advantage entering the bottom of the fourth inning but tacked on two runs in the fourth and then exploded for five runs in the fifth for a commanding 8-0 lead.
A Trojans error resulted in two unearned runs in the fourth and the Tigers used a two-RBI single and a three-RBI single to score their runs in the next inning.
Virginia State finally got on the board with a run scored in both the sixth and seventh innings.
Avante Banks scored the Trojans' first run, reaching base on an error and advancing to third on a
David Johnson single before scoring on a
Jody Morris at-bat.
Christian Henderson singled to start the seventh inning and moved to third base following a wild pitch and a fly out.
Thomas Chandler earned an RBI when he singled to score Henderson.
In addition to Chandler, Henderson, and Johnson, Markeefe Beckett also recorded a hit for the Trojans.
Up Next: The Trojans are back on the road Tuesday, May 2 for a doubleheader against Newport News Apprentice School. Game times are slated for 1 and 3 p.m.
For more information on VSU Athletics, follow Trojans Athletics on Twitter @VSUsports, or call 804-524-5030.
