VALDOSTA, Ga. - After a slow start in the first three frames, the Valdosta State baseball team caught fire in the fourth inning and used a full head of steam en route to a lopsided 11-4 win over the Shorter Hawks on Friday evening in the first game of a three-game Gulf South Conference weekend set at Billy Grant Field.
Mitchell Cody allowed four runs in the first three innings, two of which were unearned, before dialing it up a notch in the fourth. The Blazer ace retired the side in order in the half inning and went on to strike out 12 batters in the final six innings of the contest. The dominant performance led to a career high of 14 strikeouts overall, which came within four strikeouts of a single game record of 18 set by Kelly Scott 36 years ago in 1980. Cody went the distance for the fourth time in his career, and scattered seven hits to pick up the win and improve to 3-2 on the season.
"The thing I was most pleased with tonight is that we were down early, and it's no secret that we've struggled lately, but Mitchell didn't quit, our players didn't quit, and we hung in there to get the win. That's what I was most proud of." said Head Coach
Greg Guilliams following the victory. "All around, I thought this was one of the better games we've played as a club this entire year so far."
Cody's performance on the hill was complemented by an offensive onslaught that was fueled by
Dalton Duty, who belted two homers in the contest. Both were tape-measure shots, as the first cleared the wall in one of the deepest parts of the ballpark in center field, and the second was a no doubter to right field that left everyone in attendance with their mouths agape. The red hot Blazer right fielder finished the day 3-for-4 with a double and two homers to improve his league-leading batting average to .486 on the season.
Other contributors on offense included
Scott Mathews, who also clubbed a homer in the contest and finished the day with three RBI's, and
Ryan Smith added a 3-for-4 day with an RBI and two runs scored. The Blazers scored two or more runs in four different innings to improve to 12-9 overall and 5-5 in GSC play, while the Hawks fell to 10-11 overall and 4-6 in conference action.
Valdosta State will go for the sweep with a twin billing on Saturday, scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. at Billy Grant Field.
