Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 OXFORD, Pa. – The Lincoln University baseball team returned to CIAA action on Sunday afternoon as the Lions dropped a doubleheader to Virginia State, 12-9, and 10-1, at Oxford High School.
 
In the first game, Virginia State (13-11 overall, 7-3 CIAA) raced out to a 3-0 lead, but Lincoln answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the opening inning to trim the margin to 3-2.
 
The Trojans exploded for four runs in the top of the second, but again the Lions (3-9, 1-4) responded with two runs to cut the deficit to 7-4. Virginia State got a run in the first and Lincoln added a run in the fourth to keep the game within reach.
 
However, the Trojans plated two runs in the fifth and one in the sixth for an 11-5 lead.
 
Lincoln added a pair of runs in the bottom half of the sixth to close the gap to 11-7, but Virginia State got a solo homer by Joshua Markins to extend the advantage to 12-7.
 
The Lions tried to rally in the seventh as Martin Evans (Willingboro, N.J./Church Farm HS), who went 2-for-4, led off the frame with a base hit to right and advanced all the way to third when Demetrius Morris, who went 4-for-5, singled to right center. Evans scored and Morris took second on a balk. Brandon Dooley (Bear, Del./Red Lion Christian Academy) struck out for the first out of the inning as Morris advanced to third on the play. David Christian (Inglewood, Calif./Alta Loma HS), who went 3-for-4, reached on an infield single to score Morris. However, Alexander Donald (Los Angeles, Calif./Dorsey HS), who was 2-for-5, flied out and Kevin Cicali (Absecon, N.J./Holy Spirit HS) grounded out to end the game.
 
Matthew Anderson (Newark, Del./Hodgson Vo-Tech) (2-2) took the loss in pitching 4.1 innings. He surrendered nine runs (six earned) on 12 hits with a walk and a strikeout. Devin Legins (Baltimore, Md./Milford Mill Academy) pitched in relief.
 
Rico Soloman (2-3) picked up the win in working five innings. He gave up five runs (four earned) on 10 hits with a pair of walks and two strikeouts. Brandon Cooper and William Tapp pitched in relief.
 
In the nightcap, Richard Holguin (Bronx, N.Y./Fannie Lou Hamer HS) (1-3) took the loss in pitching five innings. He scattered a pair of hits and gave up five runs with 10 walks and two strikeouts. Kyle Brooks (Baltimore, Md./Seton Hill HS) worked two innings in relief.
 
The Trojans erased a 1-0 deficit with a three-run second inning and added a run in the fifth. Virginia State put the game away with six runs in the sixth.
 
Nicholas Persad (1-2) pitched a complete game for the Trojans. He gave up a run on nine hits with four strikeouts and a walk.
 
The Lions return to action with a doubleheader on Tuesday, March 27 at Millersville University. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.