By Jason Pompey
Verlisha Brandon #7
The Trojans began their season with a double-header against the Golden Falcons of Felician College. In the earlier game, outfielder Verlisha Brandon had two doubles including an RBI in the bottom of the seventh inning sending the game into extra innings.
In the third inning, Felician scored two runs; on four hits and one error by the Trojans’ defense to take an early 2-0 lead. VSU’s Jessica Mattia had a productive game, striking out five batters with six hits. Her pitching kept Felician from adding another run as the Trojans went into the bottom of the seventh inning still trailing the Golden Falcons.
Infielder Cameryn Smith sparked the Trojans’ rally with a single up the middle of the Felician defense in the bottom of the seventh. The Golden Falcons walked Sade Holmes after recording their second out of the inning advancing Smith into scoring position. With two runners on base, Jessica Mattia hit an RBI double to center field scoring Cameryn Smith. Trailing the Golden Falcons by a run, Verlisha Brandon followed with a double to left field scoring Sade Holmes for the game-tying run.
An exciting late rally by the Trojans pushed this game into extra innings. The Golden Falcons tacked on another run in the next inning to win the game 3-2.
Verlisha Brandon and Cameryn Smith had two hits each against Felician. Defensively, three Trojans had five putouts each; Endya Bailey, Caitlyn Underhill, and Dominique Johnson.
In the later game, the Trojans were shut out 16-0 by Felician. Tierra Pendergrass recorded a team-high six putouts while Alexandra King had four for the VSU defense. Pitcher Jessica Mattia had a rough outing against the Golden Falcons offense in game two. The Trojans had five total hits, led by Cameryn Smith. Smith hit a double to center field in the bottom of the fifth inning. Verlisha Brandon, Jessica Mattia, Jada Ross, Alexandra King, along with Cameryn Smith recorded hits for the Trojans.
VSU (0-2) softball will begin CIAA conference play in Winston-Salem, NC this weekend at the CIAA Round-Up. The Trojans will open against Winston-Salem State, then will play Livingstone College on Saturday. On Sunday, the Trojans play Johnson C. Smith concluding their weekend.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Trojans Baseball Stays Undefeated After Sweeping Morehouse College
By: Marcus Morgan, VSU Baseball
Jessica Mattia #10
To complete their season opening trip to Atlanta, the Trojans swept the Maroons of Morehouse College. Colton Gunn picked up his first win of the season in game two.
In game one, Atlanta native Rico Solomon recorded his first win of the season, 11-2. Solomon pitched five strong innings allowing only one run on two hits. William Tapp swung the bat racking up five RBI’s. Tyler Coleman had three hits in the win while Percy Evans added a double and a triple for the Trojans.
In game two, pitcher Colton Gunn won his first collegiate start 11-4. Gunn gave up a single run on two hits, while striking out five batters in four innings of work. The Trojans pounded out 14 hits in the later game with Tyler Coleman and Nicholas Christopher leading the way with four and three hits, respectively. John McCarty picked up five RBI’s in the game. Josh Markins capped off his stellar weekend by adding three hits. Markins crushed a two- run homerun, his second of the weekend.
With the wins, Head Coach Merrill Morgan is now one win away from 200 in his VSU career. The Trojans return home this weekend for a three-game set with Ohio Valley University starting on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
