XENIA, Ohio – Freshman Junior Veras Vasquez slugged a pair of homers and drove in eight runs as the Wilberforce University baseball team opened HBCUAC action with a doubleheader sweep of Voorhees Friday at the Browne Family Baseball Complex. 

GAME ONE: WILBERFORCE 8, VOORHEES 5 

Wilberforce scored seven runs over the first two innings, capped by a three-run Veras Vasquez home run in the second inning, and held on for the 8-5 victory in the opener.  

After the Tigers took the lead with a run in the first inning, a sacrifice fly by Veras Vasquez knotted the game, and Thomas Hampton singled home a pair of runs to give WU a lead it wouldn't relinquish.  

Voorhees pulled to within two with three runs in the fourth inning, however, a Keith Smith RBI single gave the Bulldogs some breathing room. 

Xavier Thompson (4-0) allowed five earned runs on eight hits over seven innings with a pair of strikeouts. 

Veras Vasquez was 1-for-2 with a run scored, a home run, and three RBI. Joe Mendy was 2-for-3 with a run scored, while Hampton was 2-for-3 with two RBI. Darius Woodson reached base three times on a double and two walks with two stolen bases. As a team, Wilberforce recorded six stolen bases.  

GAME TWO: WILBERFORCE 16, VOORHEES 11 

Wilberforce sent 14 hitters to the plate in scoring nine runs in the bottom of the sixth inning for the comeback win.  

Voorhees came out swinging in the top of the first with a five-spot, but the Bulldogs didn't bat an eye. Mendy singled home a run, then Hampton doubled home two more and sprinted around the bases for the tying run thanks to a miscue on his double.  

However, the Tigers reclaimed the lead with two runs in the fourth. Once again, Wilberforce had an answer. Veras Vasquez crushed his second longball of the game in the fifth, and Amir Bergen singled home the equalizer.  

Unfortunately, a pair of errors enabled Voorhees to take a three-run lead in the sixth, but it quickly evaporated thanks to the nine-run Wilberforce sixth. 

The pitching duo of Andres Anez and Andres Estevez allowed just two earned runs with six strikeouts to secure the victory. Estevez (2-1) earned the win in relief, allowingno earned runs (four total) on two hits over three innings with three strikeouts.  

Waldenburg Guerrero had a career-high three hits, scoring a run and driving in another run, while Christopher Alcantara-Diaz went 3-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and two RBI.  

Beau Spears, Veras Vasquez, Mendy and Hampton all had two hits as Wilberforce finished with 16 hits as a team. The Bulldogs swiped five more bases and is currently third in the HBCUAC with 3.7 stolen bases per game. 

Wilberforce (7-4 overall, 2-0 HBCUAC) returns to action Noon Saturday with another HBCUAC doubleheader against Voorhees at Hayden Field on the campus of Xavier University. The second game will be a home game for the Tigers.