VALDOSTA, Ga. – Valdosta State tallied 14 hits as the Blazers defeated Union 11-2 in the rubber game of a Gulf South Conference baseball series at Billy Grant Field Sunday afternoon.
 
Valdosta State (19-11, 11-8) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning as it took advantage of a pair of Union errors. Hayden Jones reached on an error by the UU shortstop to open the inning before moving to second on a Mike Reed sacrifice bunt. An error at second moved Jones to third and put Michael Gouge on first before Bryant Hayman grounded out to plate Jones. Kevin Cruz followed with a two out single to center that scored Gouge for the second run of the inning.
 
VSU pushed its lead to four runs in the second inning as Jayk Graham singled to open the inning and scored from first as Ryan Smith doubled to left-center. A Jones ground out moved Smith to third while Reed followed with a sacrifice fly to drive him home.
 
The two teams traded runs in the third inning while Union (5-26, 3-18) took advantage of a VSU error in the sixth inning to score its second run.
 
The Blazers pushed their lead to 8-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning as they plated three more runs. With one out in the frame, Smith doubled and Jones reached on a single. Reed followed with a single that plated Smith and stole second before Jones scored on a balk. Michael Gouge followed with a single to center that scored Reed for the six-run VSU lead.
 
Valdosta State also scored a run in the bottom of the seventh and two more in the eighth to close out the scoring.
 
Kellan Bailey pitched five inning and allowed just two hits and one unearned run while striking out nine batters to improve to 3-2 on the season. Gouge finished the day 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two driven in to lead VSU offensively while Cruz, Felkel, Graham and Smith also tallied two hits apiece.
 
Valdosta State returns to action Wednesday, April 1 when it travels to St. Augustine, Fla. to face Flagler at 5:00 p.m.