ALBANY, Ga. - Jayk Graham hit for the cycle to lead Valdosta State to a 15-4 victory over Albany State in non-conference baseball action Wednesday evening.
By hitting for a single, double, triple and home run in the game, Graham became the first recorded Blazer to accomplish the feat and just the sixth player in Gulf South Conference history to do so.
After
Bryant Hayman posted Valdosta State (22-13) to a 1-0 lead with his ninth home run of the season in the top of the first inning, Graham began his assault on the record book in the top of the second inning as he tripled with
Zac Goodno on second base to put the Blazers in front 2-0.
Graham added a home run in the top of the fourth inning, his fourth of the year that drove home Goodno to put the Blazers in front 4-0 before Albany State (13-28) scored all four of its runs in the bottom of the inning, including three on a bases loaded triple by Sable Gilliard.
Goodno put VSU back in front with a double that scored
Kevin Cruz in the top of the fifth inning while Graham added a sacrifice fly to plate
Bobby Rice in the frame before the Blazers broke the game open with five runs in the sixth inning to take an 11-4 lead. VSU sent all nine batters to the plate in the inning, but collected just three hits, including a two-run double by Graham.
Graham added his final hit in the eighth inning as he singled to load the bases with one out. Brandon Harmon drove two runs in with a fielder's choice before
Mike Reed tripled him home. Reed scored on a passed ball for the game's final run.
Graham finished the game 4-for-4 at the plate with six runs batted in and a run scored. Goodno was 3-for-3 with four runs scored and one driven in while Reed had three hits in five at-bats with two runs scored and one RBI.
Jarod Stanley allowed four hits, but no runs, in 2.2 innings of relief as he upped his record to 6-1 on the season.
Valdosta State returns to action Friday, April 10 when it opens a three-game Gulf South Conference series against West Georgia at 3:00 p.m. at Billy Grant Field. The two teams will conclude the series Saturday at 1:00 p.m. with a single game.
