ETTRICK, Virginia - With the regular season concluded, the Salem baseball team headed down to central Virginia to take on the Virginia State Trojans for the 7th time this season in the first round of the New South Athletic Conference Tournament, hosted by Virginia State. While Salem won the first 6 contests against the Trojans in the regular season, Virginia State was able to best the Tigers in the first postseason matchup between the two 5-4. The contest played out as follows:

Virginia State showed off their home field advantage by jumping out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. Salem responded with two of their own in the second when Jose Lojo singled to bring in both Ben Matos and Aaron Forbes. Virginia State battled back with 2 more in the 3rd, but Salem launched another rally in both the 6th and 7th innings. In the 6th, they added a run off of an Aaron Forbes sacrifice fly that brought in Hayes Lightsey. In the 7th, they got a run from a Tyler Shinn double that brought in Kaiden Zacharias. With the game knotted up at 4-4, it would be the Trojans who broke the deadlock with a run in the top of 9th unfortunately. Salem was unable to muster a comeback bid in the bottom of that frame, therefore they fell 5-4.

On the pitcher's mound, Salem still got a decent showing from starter Sam Schmitt who struck out 6 to open the game, and reliever Travis Lavendier who struck out 8 in the back end of the contest.  

Despite the loss, Salem is not out of contention just yet for the NSAC crown as the tournament is a double elimination format. They will play an elimination game tomorrow against the Builders of The Apprentice School, based out of Newport News, Virginia, 3:30 PM in Ettrick, Virginia. All of the weekend's contests will be hosted by Virginia State.