JACKSON, Tenn. – Valdosta State dominated game one 8-0, before dropping game two in a 4-0 loss to split with the Union Bulldogs in Gulf South Conference baseball action on Saturday afternoon in Jackson, Tenn. at Fesmire Field.
The Blazers (15-11, 8-6 GSC) scored early and often in game one to jump out to a 3-0 advantage in the top of the first inning.
Chipper Andzel drew a full-count walk to start off the day, and
Scott Mathews moved him up 90 feet with a sacrifice bunt to third base before
Dalton Duty kept the line moving with a single to right field.
During the following at bat, Duty broke for a stolen base attempt and drew a throw to second base. On the throw, Andzel stole home to put VSU up 1-0.
Marcus Sigmon followed with the first of two doubles in the game, which scored Duty and gave the Blazers a 2-0 advantage. The first inning surge concluded two batters later, as
Tyler York delivered to put Valdosta State on top 3-0 with an RBI base knock to left field.
Valdosta State scored additional runs in both the second and third innings, as
Mitchell Cody (4-2) went to work on the hill and pitched around singles for Union in each of the first three innings to hold the Bulldogs scoreless. Cody allowed one runner to reach in each of his seven innings pitched, in fact, but the senior kept his composure and scattered the opportunities around 11 strikeouts. The effort led to a shutout win for Valdosta State, which
Troy Terzi helped close out with two scoreless innings of work.
York finished the opening contest with a 3-for-4 effort at the plate and drove home two runs. Meanwhile, both Duty and Sigmon tallied two hits in the game and each drove in a run. Eight different Blazers swung for a base hit in the lopsided victory, and both Andzel and
Clint Carr accounted for two of VSU's four doubles.
The Bulldogs (14-8, 8-5 GSC) retaliated in game two, as Union starter Teddy Christie allowed just five Blazer hits with nine strikeouts over seven innings pitched. Duty went 3-for-3 in the game to improve his league-leading batting average to .478, but Christie used the benefit of a three-run sixth by the Union offense to close out the game and improve to 3-1 on the year.
Kellan Bailey went the distance in game two, but fell to 4-3 after allowing eight hits and four runs in the game. Union's big sixth inning came by way of four hits in the frame, three of which occurred in succession with two outs.
Valdosta State returns to action tomorrow afternoon for the series finale, set to begin at 2:00 p.m. First pitch is slated for 2:00 p.m. EST.
