VALDOSTA, Ga. – North Alabama scored a run in the top of the ninth inning to win game one 7-6 while
Michael Gouge hit his second walk-off home run of the season to lead Valdosta State to a 3-1 victory in game two as the two teams split a Gulf South Conference baseball doubleheader at Billy Grant Field Saturday.
After Valdosta State loaded the bases with just one out, but failed to score in the bottom of the first inning of game one, North Alabama (10-4, 4-3) used five straight hits to take the lead in the top of the second. With one out in the frame, Kevin Hall singled up the middle before moving to third on a Brett Guzay base hit to right. Kyle Crabtree followed with an infield single that plated Hall while Heath Wood singled to center to score Guzay. After Wood stole second, Jake Smith singled off the glove of VSU second baseman
Hayden Jones to score both base runners for a 4-0 UNA lead.
Valdosta State (12-5, 7-3) got a run back in the bottom of the second inning as
B.J. Harmon singled with two outs before
Mike Reed also reached on a base hit.
Michael Gouge followed with a single through the left-side of the infield to drive home Harmon and cut the VSU deficit to 4-1.
UNA plated a run in the fifth inning to push its lead back to four runs before the Blazers struck for four runs in the bottom of the sixth. Harmon started the rally with a one-out single before Reed also singled. Gouge drove Harmon home with a single, but was retired on a fielder's choice by
Bryant Hayman.
Hayden Jones followed with his fourth home run of the season to knot the game at 5-5.
The two teams traded runs in the eighth inning while Taylor Hayes singled home Kyle Conkle with two outs in the top of the ninth for the game's winning run.
Reed was a perfect 5-for-5 at the plate and scored two runs in the game while Harmon finished the game 3-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored. Gouge, Hayman and Jones each had two hits each as VSU tallied 15 in the game.
Blazer reliever
Kellan Bailey allowed three hits and walked three batters in 2.0 innings as he fell to 2-2 on the season. Meanwhile, UNA's Jacob Westerhouse did not allow a base runner in 1.2 innings as he improved to 2-0.
VSU jumped out to an early lead in the second game as it scored a run on three hits in the second inning. Jones and
Kevin Cruz each singled to open the frame before Jones was erased on a fielder's choice.
Zac Goodno followed with a single to right to load the bases before
Bobby Rice hit a sacrifice fly that brought home Cruz for a 1-0 Valdosta State lead.
The Lions took advantage of a Blazer error to even the game in the top of the third. Jake Smith singled to open the frame before Dylan Calhoun hit a one-out grounder that was misplayed by Reed at short. A fly out followed before Kyle Conkle singled Smith home to knot the game at 1-1.
Both teams led base runners over the next three innings before VSU pushed the winning runs across with two outs in the seventh. With one out, Harmon reached on a base hit before a stolen base moved him to second. Following a strikeout, Gouge hit the first pitch he saw from UNA starter Riley Sanderson (3-2) over the fence in left for the game winner.
Six different Blazers had a hit in game two while starting pitcher
Kyle Andre allowed five hits and one unearned run while striking out five in a complete game to improve to 3-0.
The two teams conclude the series with a single game at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday.
