LIVINGSTON, Ala. – Despite nearly matching West Alabama in the hitting column, the Valdosta State baseball team was outscored 5-1 by the Tigers in a Gulf South Conference loss on Sunday afternoon at Tartt Field in Livingston, Ala.
 
The deciding frame came early for the Tigers, as UWA scored four of their five runs in the second inning alone. Nick Delgado was hit by a pitch to open up the frame and moved into scoring position after Jake Bush drew a walk. With two aboard, Luigi Mendez followed with an RBI single to give West Alabama their first run of the game, and an error in left field allowed Bush and Mendez to advance to second and third, respectively. Dylan Little rattled off another single to bring two more runs across, and Adam Chamblee connected for an RBI double to put the Tigers up 4-0.
 
West Alabama's only other run came in the sixth on a solo shot by Mendez in the sixth, and the Blazers' only tally came in the fourth on Cliff Bryant's first homer of the year, a solo blast to right field.
 
The Blazers saw opportunities throughout, but were unable to find the timely hit. As a result, VSU left seven stranded on base in the contest and fell to 11-9 overall and 4-5 in GSC play. Meanwhile, the No. 21 ranked Tigers improved to 15-4 overall and 7-2 in conference play.
 
VSU's Kyle Andre suffered the loss to fall to 1-2 on the year, while UWA's Even Miller, who racked up seven strikeouts in 7.0 innings of work, bumped his record up to 2-1.
 
Next up for VSU baseball, it's the Shorter Hawks, who will come to Titletown next weekend for a three game conference series. Action kicks off on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. for a doubleheader at Billy Grant Field.