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Virginia State University Athletics

THE OFFICIAL ATHLETICS SITE OF VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY
Baseball23
10
Winner Salem (WV) SALEM 29-25
0
Virginia St. VSU 21-28
Winner
Salem (WV) SALEM
29-25
10
Final
0
Virginia St. VSU
21-28
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Salem (WV) SALEM 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 2 5 10 9 1
Virginia St. VSU 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 3

W: T. Sammons (4-3) L: Hammond, Tahraun (3-3)

6
Virginia St. VSU 21-29
7
Winner Salem (WV) SALEM 30-25
Virginia St. VSU
21-29
6
Final
7
Salem (WV) SALEM
30-25
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Virginia St. VSU 3 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 6 11 1
Salem (WV) SALEM 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 3 1 7 10 0

W: T. Lavendier (3-6) L: Wallace, Coron (2-5)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Trojans Suffer 7-6 Loss to Salem for the NSAC Championship Title

Ettrick, VA - Virginia State entered today's matchup needing just one win to claim another New South Athletic Conference championship but Salem University bested the Trojans twice, beating them 10-0 in the first game and then earning the title on a 7-6 walkoff victory.

Dropping the first game led to a winner-takes-all game two. In a game that featured intermittent rain, a dreary sky, and a weather delay, it took over four hours for a winner to be decided. Salem erased a 5-0 deficit, tying the game 6-6 with three runs in the bottom of the eighth before winning the game on a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the ninth.

The Trojans finish the 2023 season with an overall record of 21-29.

Game 2 Final Score: Trojans 6 – Tigers 7
Player Highlights: Ricky Jones had three hits in four at-bats with two runs scored, an RBI, and he drew a walk.
 
How It Happened: After being blanked in the first game, the Trojans began the second game on a mission of redemption. The first seven batters of the game reached base safely, leading with Tahraun Hammond's walk and closing with Justis Crawley singling. Norman Jackson and Liam Simpson both logged singles that snuck through the left side and Jones doubled to right field and advanced to third when Jackson scored and Simpson was ruled out at home. Simpson previously picked up an RBI on his hit and Jones scored on a single from Dawsyn Hock.

With one out in the second, Hammond again started the fireworks-- this time with a single. He advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a Jackson double. Jackson would eventually take advantage of a wild pitch to score the Trojans' fifth run of the day.

Salem got on the board in the third inning, cutting the deficit to 5-3 with a two-RBI double and a RBI-single.

In the top of the sixth, Virginia State improved its lead to 6-3 with doubles in consecutive at-bats. Jones blasted a hit to left center that fell just shy of the warning track and Christian Henderson scored him with a hit that sailed over the left fielder's head.

The Tigers' comeback story began in the eighth when the first four batters reached base safely. Salem converted two hits and two walks into three runs thanks to an outfield error, a sacrifice fly, and a sacrifice bunt.

The Tigers overwhelmed the Trojans in the ninth, loading the bases with no outs. Salem's Ben Matos drew the walk and the win.

Hammond had a team-high three walks and a hit and Jackson had two hits.


Game 1 Final Score: Trojans 0 – Tigers 10
 
How It Happened: Despite a lopsided final score, the Trojans were in this game until the ninth inning when Salem effectively closed the door on any possible Trojans heroics with a five-run barrage in the ninth.

Salem held a 2-0 lead after three innings and that score held until the seventh. The Tigers scored one run in the top of the seventh and added two in the eighth.

Virginia State has to be lamenting the 12 runners that were left on base throughout the game. The Trojans left eight runners stranded through the first three innings, including five Trojans in scoring position. The bases were loaded in both the second and third innings but Virginia State was unable to bring any of those runners home. In the second, the bases were loaded as a result of a Hammond walk and a passed ball. Christian Henderson was on third and Ryan Messer was on second. In the next inning, it was déjà vu almost as the inning ended with Liam Simpson, Henderson, and Justis Crawley on the bases.

The first and sixth innings ended with Trojans on first and second base.

Virginia State's plate discipline resulted in nine walks, led by Hammond's three. Messer had two walks and four other Trojans recorded a walk. Dawsyn Hock and Henderson earned the only two hits for the Trojans and Crawley and Norman Jackson earned sacrifice hits.

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