Ettrick, Va (March 11, 2024)- The Virginia State University softball team split a double header against Pace University with a 12-1 loss followed by a 4-2 win in game 2. 

GAME 1 Pace 12 VSU 1 

• The Setters loaded the bases with just one out, before a single to right center got them on the board, followed by a ground out to short and then another single to third base made it 4-0 

• In the top of the fifth Pace would hit a homerun to straight away centerfield. The following three batters would single to third then to left center and get hit by the pitch. With the bases load a single just past third would score another and a sacrifice fly would plate the seventh run 

• In the bottom of the third inning, VSU would see themselves with two outs before Hailey Darrington singled and stole second. Alaijah Pratt singled to shortstop and the Jaya Diggs-Hagwood would hit an RBI single to left to score Darrington 

• That would be the only run for the Trojans in game one as Pace would tack on five more to win 12-1 in five innings.  

GAME 2 PACE 2 VSU 4 

• Both teams would go down in order in the first inning. VSU would get a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the second but couldn't bring them around to score 

• Pratt, who started in the circle for game 2, threw another shutout inning in the top of the third. To start the bottom half of the inning Makailah Harmon doubled to center followed by a Darrington single to get runners on the corners with no one out. Diggs-Hagwood would get hit by the pitch to load the bases. Mylia Knight would hit a sac fly to score the first run and Shamya Hankins would single to plat the second 

• In the bottom of the fourth Nia Hall doubled down the left field line, followed by a Maisie Spivey single to left to agins get runners on the corners with no one out. Harmon then single to the pitcher with Hall running all the way to score making it 3-0 

• In the top of the fifth Pratt threw another 1-2-3 inning and in the bottom half Hankins reached on an error then Lauren Parham went in to pinch run. She then stole second and came around to score on a Skye Corum single. 

• In the top of the sixth Pace managed to mount some momentum getting runners on second and third with one out. The next two batters hit a sacrifice fly and then a single up the middle to cut their deficit in half, 4-2. 

• In the seventh inning after getting a player on first via an error the next three batters lined out to short, lined out to short and flew out to center to secure a 4-2 win. Pratt moved to 2-0 on the young season 

With the split VSU moves to 5-2 on the season while Pace is now 3-1. The CIAA Roundup hosted by Elizabeth City State University will be next for the team as they will start play on Friday March 22.