HAMPTON, VA. – The Apprentice School broke open a tied game with NCAA Division II Virginia State University by scoring four runs in the bottom of the eighth to take an 8-4 victory over the Trojans on Tuesday afternoon at War Memorial Stadium.
Virginia State (13-12) who entered on a five-game winning streak, scored a run in the second as Howard Spencer forced out Cameron Cox on a bases loaded grounder that scored William Tapp. Apprentice School answered with a run in the bottom of the second as with one out, Ryan Hendrickson was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a ground out before scoring on a single from Matt Zapf to tie the game.
The Trojans got some cushion with a three-run third inning on RBI singles from Percy Evans, Michael Whiten and a sacrifice fly from John McCarty. Apprentice School started to scratch back with a run in the third as with two outs, Devorn Lake singled and took second on a balk before Travis Franklin laced a single up the middle to score Lake. In the sixth, the Builders tied the game on RBI doubles from Andrew Hooper and Zachary Harding to knot the score at 4-all.
Apprentice School broke the game open in the eighth as Lake started with a towering home run to left-center field. Franklin followed with an infield single and took second on an error. Hooper followed with a single as he and pinch-runner Lee Rossi advanced on a sacrifice from Hendrickson. After an intentional walk to Harding, Zapf reached on an error to plate Rossi for a 6-4 lead. Chris Scarola followed with a two-run single to left-center scoring Harding and Hooper for the 8-4 advantage.
Freshman Ryland Edwards threw seven strong innings striking out a season-high eight before giving way to fellow freshman Sam Massie who earned his second win of the year throwing the final two innings and striking out two. Lake, Franklin and Hooper had two hits each as the Builders out-hit the Trojans 11-9.
Apprentice School now goes to Danville, Va. to face Danville Community College on Wednesday afternoon in a 2 pm single game at Dan Daniels Park.