Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 The Lincoln University baseball team opened their 2020 season at Virginia State University on Saturday, taking on the host Trojans and Shepherd University. at VSU's Whaley Colbert Field.   The Lions dropped the first game to the host Trojans 23-6 and lost the second 11-1 to Shepherd to start the season 0-2.
 
The Lions banged out nine hits in the opener with Kashif Hill (Brooklyn, N.Y./Benjamin Banneker Academy), Max Guadalupe (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bluefield College) and Josiah Lara (Plant City Fla./Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy) each recording two.  Guadalupe drove in three of the Lions six runs. 
On the mound, Trevon Sutton (Chicago, Ill./Harlan Community Academy) took the loss while Jarren Norman earned the win.
 
Hill singled with one out in the first inning and scored on Guadalupe's double to give the Lions the early 1-0 lead.
 
The Trojans scored seven times in the first and four more in the third chasing Sutton as the Lions brought in CarVonte Williams (Cleveland, Ohio/Twinsburg) to pitch.  Williams held the Trojans scoreless until the seventh inning when the Trojans plated 12 runs to lead 23-1.
 
Lara delivered a one-out single in the seventh, stole second and scored on Willie Hine's single.  Hines then stole second and scored as Guadalupe reached on an error.  Malcolm Smith (Los Angeles, Calif./Susan Miller Dorsey) walked and Guadalupe stole third and later scored on Bradley Regalado's (Queens, N.Y./Bishop Loughlin Memorial) single to make the score 23-4.
 
The Lions added two more runs in the ninth inning as Lara and Guadalupe delivered RBI singles to make the final score 23-6.
 
In the second game Rolando Alvarez (Brooklyn, N.Y./Nazareth Regional ) struck out seven batters in four innings of work but struggled with control as he walked seven and allowed a five-run first as the Lions fell to Shepherd 11-1.
 
Alvarez allowed just one hit, also in the first inning, a 3-run double by Shepherd catcher Andrew Edwards.
 
Lara and Josh Roberson (Germantown Md./Seneca Valley) each had two hits for the Lions with Lara driving in the lone run.
 
RJ Liverpool (Richmond, Va./Monacan) drew a one-out walk in the second inning stole second and scored on Lara's single, making the score 5-1.
 
Shepherd added solo runs in the fifth and sixth inning and plated four more in the eighth to round out the scoring.
 
The Lions conclude their series at Virginia State with a single game against the Trojans at Whaley Colbert Field.  First pitch is as noon.