Despite Setbacks, Virginia State Shows Heart in Doubleheader Battle
Emory, VA– The Trojans faced off in a doubleheader against the Wasps of Emory & Henry on February 24, with games scheduled for 12 PM and 2 PM.
Game 1: Virginia State 1 vs. Emory & Henry 13
The game started inauspiciously for Virginia State, as they went three up and three down in the top of the first inning. Capitalizing on a series of wild pitches and fielding errors, Emory & Henry quickly established control. After M. Williams walked and advanced to third on multiple wild pitches, D. King's walk led to chaos on the field. A fielding error allowed A. Street to score Williams, followed by two more runs from wild pitches, culminating in a staggering 10-run inning on just four hits, highlighted by T. Tofano's two-RBI single.
In the second and third innings, Virginia State struggled to find their footing as Emory & Henry continued to score. S. Tolley's double and K. Simpson's RBI single pushed the score to 11-0 by the end of the second inning. In the fourth, Emory & Henry added two more runs, while Virginia State finally managed to break through with a run from S. Hankins, making it 11-1.
The fifth inning saw Emory & Henry maintain their dominance, adding two more runs with contributions from Tolley and K. Cundiff. Despite some opportunities, Virginia State couldn't rally, and the game ended decisively at 13-1 in favor of Emory & Henry, showcasing their commanding performance throughout.
Game 2: Virginia State 1 vs. Emory & Henry 9
In the second game, Virginia State faced an uphill battle right from the start. H. Darington's early single was quickly erased by a double play, followed by a ground out from A. Pratt that closed the inning with Emory & Henry poised to capitalize. Emory & Henry's M. Williams ignited the offense with a single and a stolen base, leading to a run scored on A. Street's sacrifice fly. L. Johnson's single extended their lead to 2-0.
Virginia State managed to respond in the second inning with a double from C. Garland, allowing N. Hall to score, but Emory & Henry's relentless pressure quickly swung the momentum back. A throwing error by Virginia State's shortstop let D. King cross home plate, pushing the lead to 4-1.
In the fourth inning, Emory & Henry took full control: M. Williams doubled, and A. Street's single brought him home. L. Taylor then launched a two-run homer, elevating the score to 7-1. Despite a walk and stolen base by Virginia State's M. Harmon in the fifth, they were unable to convert. Emory & Henry capped off their scoring with two more runs, including a solo homer from K. Simpson, bringing the final score to 9-1.
The Trojans will return home for a doubleheader against the Hawks of Chowan University on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at 2 PM and 4 PM.
