VALDOSTA, Ga. - The Valdosta State Blazers dropped the series opener against Wingate before bouncing back in the nightcap to split a pair of non-conference matchups (9-17, 4-3) on Saturday afternoon at Billy Grant Field in Valdosta, Ga.

The results moved VSU to 5-2 overall on the season, while Wingate slid to 2-4 overall.

The high-scoring opening affair featured an impressive display of offensive production from both teams, including an incredible 3-for-4 performance by senior Tyler Homer, who produced two home runs and a double in the game. 

Valdosta State negated Wingate's early first inning run with Homer's aforementioned double in the bottom of the first, which drove in Kendall Herron. The Blazers proceeded to claim a two-run lead later in the inning, after a two-out error by third baseman Colby Barnette allowed both Homer and Luke Suchon to cross and give VSU a 3-1 lead.

The lead held for the Blazers until the top half of the third, when the Bulldogs amplified two VSU errors with six hits for a six-run inning. The biggest blow of the frame came off the bat of Barnette, who yanked a three-run shot over the left field wall after a pair of Wingate doubles and a walk to lead off the inning.

Multi-run innings for the Bulldogs in both the sixth and the eighth innings gave Wingate enough cushion to withstand any sort of comeback effort by the Blazers, and WU managed to ride their hitting wave to the lopsided victory.

Daniel Williams was tagged with the loss in game one, which dropped his record on the season to 1-1. Meanwhile, Wingate's Brandon Donahue reaped the rewards of his excessive run support and scored his first win of the season, despite allowing eight hits and five runs over five innings of work.

In game two, the Blazers retaliated nicely, after Homer struck again in the bottom half of the first inning for his third long ball of the day. The blast scored Herron as well, and an RBI single by Cody Ilgenfritz later in the inning capped off a four-run first inning for the Blazers.

The Blazers didn't score again in the contest, but Austin Hamilton allowed just five hits through 6.2 innings, before Beau Blair came on to slam the door with two outs in the bottom of the final inning. Hamilton notched the victory, which represented his first as a Blazer.

Homer's eye-popping day featured a 4-of-6 performance at the plate with four extra base hits and six RBI's. The Blazers entered the day still searching for their first home runs of the season, and Homer and Dalton Murray ended the drought with an exclamation point. The pair teamed up for four of seven between the two teams on the day.

The Blazers will return to action on Sunday at Billy Grant Field for the series finale at 1:00 p.m.