Spartanburg, S.C. (Feb. 16, 2024)- The Virginia State University softball team opened their season with a 6-3 win over Kentucky State and then followed that up with a dominating 10-1 win over conference foe Livingstone. 

GAME 1 VSU 6 KSU 3 

• After getting runners on first and second with one out the Thorobreds then hit a single past shortstop to get on the board first. Then in the third inning Kentucky State would get on by catcher's interference and a hit by pitch (HBP). The next player would strikeout before a double to left center put the score at 3-0 

• Hailey Darrington would walk with one out and be home the next batter after Alaijah Pratt hit a triple to left, Pratt would then come around to score after an RBI groundout by Jaya Diggs-Hagwood to make it 3-2 in the bottom half of the third

• In the bottom of the fifth an error, followed by a single and another error loaded the bases with Trojans. Mylia Knight would get HBP to score Darrington from third then a fielders choice would score Pratt on the next batter. Nia Hall would single to left to make it three straight runs in three straight batters making it 5-3 

• In the bottom of the sixth Diggs-Hagwood would single to score Darrington for an insurance run 

• Kara Green went the full seven innings on the mound striking out eight and picking up the first win of the season 

GAME 2 VSU 10 LIVINGSTONE 1 

• VSU started the game off hot with a Darrington single followed by her stealing second. Pratt the singled and stole second to get Trojans on second and third with no one out. Knight reached on an error but allowing the run to score making it 1-0 early 

• The Bluebear's had bases loaded in the bottom half of the inning, but would only come away with one run as Pratt struck out two batters 

• Neither team did much in the next three innings, but in the top of the fifth VSU exploded for nine runs. Skye Corum scored two with a single to left center and Alani Horton followed with a double to right center to score two more. Lauren Parham then tripled to right center and Darrington brought her in with a single up the middle. Giggs-Hagwood would hit a sacrifice fly to score Darrington and Knight hit the second triple of the inning to score Pratt who double earlier and to end the scoring Hall singled through the left-side gap making the score 10-1. 15 Trojans came up to bat in the top if the fifth 

• Pratt made quick work of the first two batters with a foul fly out to third and a fly out to center and would get the final out herself with a groundout to the pitcher. She would get the win only throwing 68 pitches 

• Every Trojans who batted recorded at least one hit 

The team will continue to play in the tournament tomorrow against Tuskegee University at 12:30 and Edward Waters at 3:00 pm.