ETTRICK, Va. - The Mansfield University baseball team (1-1) opened their 2024 campaign with a Day one split against the Virginia State University Trojans (4-3) in a Saturday afternoon doubleheader.
The Mansfield offense would carry the load in game one, exploding for 14 hits and seven runs.
Austin Lewis turned in a solid performance on the mound giving the Mountaineers 3.0 innings while giving up three runs on three hits and striking out seven.
The Trojans were able to take advantage of some early-season rust when they had a bases-clearing double to drive in all three runs against Lewis' line.
The game entered the seventh inning with the Mountaineers trailing 4-1 but the Mansfield offense came to life plating three runs to tie the game at four. The first of the three came from a Zachary Shertzer single to score Jerry Crispino. The second was thanks to a passed ball that allowed Ryan Scott to score. Finally, the third run of the inning was driven by Ryan Verbonitz as he singled to score Shertzer.
While the Mansfield offense was searching for more runs, Luke Payne and Jacob Houtz combined for 6.0 innings, one hit, one run scored, and six Ks.
Things stayed quiet until the tenth when the Mountaineers pushed across three more to take a 7-4 lead. Shay Gustafson started the party with an RBI double to score Cole Serfass. The last two runs of the day were driven by Scott who had a two-RBI single scoring Gustafson and Jeffrey Coakley.
Coach Chalot gave the ball to Joseph Gleason in the bottom of the tenth and Gleason did not disappoint. Gleason faced three batters, striking out all three, effectively slamming the door and locking up Houtz's and the Mounties' first win of the season.
Looking for a day one sweep, Mansfield turned to veteran Eric Gustofson who gave them 5.0 innings, giving up two hits, three runs, only one earned run, and striking out a career-high 10 batters.
The Trojans got to Gustofson earlier scoring 1 in the first inning off of a groundout back to Gustofson.
Virginia State would add a second run in the third inning thanks to an error committed by the Mountaineer defense.
Mansfield answered back with two runs of their own in the fourth and fifth innings. Jacob Houtz drove in Ryan Scott with a single in the top of the fourth to pull the Mounties within one. Then in the fifth Jackson Halla singled in Ryan Sekulski to tie the game at two.
VSU regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth thanks to another Mountaineers error.
The Trojans added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth scoring on a passed ball to give them a 4-2 advantage.
Unfortunately, the Mountaineer bats went cold in game two as they were only able to muster up three hits against VSU's senior starter Christian Henderson. Henderson threw a complete game giving up just two runs as the Trojans take game two by a final score of 4-2.
UP NEXT:
The Mounties once again take on Virginia State University for the last two of their four-game set. Games are scheduled for 1:00 and 4:00 p.m. tomorrow, Sunday, February 18.
