MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Valdosta State men's team saw a late lead slip away for a 10-9 loss in their Gulf South Conference series opener, but the team rebounded nicely for a 7-1 victory over the Bucs in the Saturday night cap in Memphis, Tenn.
The Blazers moved to 8-3 overall and 1-1 in league action following the split, while Christian Brothers slid to 5-6 overall and 1-1 in GSC action.
Valdosta State navigated the opening game with five different pitchers, beginning with starter
Daniel Williams, who retired the Bucs in order in the first inning, before
Tyler Homer and
Dalton Murray drove in a pair to give VSU an early 2-0 lead. The second inning was a different story, however, as CBU flipped the script with three hits and a walk to put two on the board and tie the game up at 2-2.
Christian Brothers carried that offensive momentum into the third and sent eight batters to the plate for four base hits. Catcher Riley Kilgore delivered the biggest blow of the inning and ended Williams' day with a two-run single to left field, before
Cooper Cain came on in relief with one away to strike out the next two batters.
With CBU leading 6-2 after five, the Blazers fired back in the top half of the sixth and used six hits to score five runs and take a 7-6 lead.
Cody Ilgenfritz and
Kendall Herron teamed up for a pair of run-scoring doubles during the half inning, while
Ryan Slaughter also produced an RBI single late in the inning.
Roman Donofro entered in the bottom of the sixth and issued two leadoff walks, which led to one run for the Bucs, despite the lack of a base hit in the bottom of the sixth. The tally tied the contest up at 7-7, but Valdosta State negated CBU's sixth inning success one half inning later, after Homer led the seventh off with a walk and came around to score on a wild pitch. One batter later,
Elias Macias drove in
Luke Suchon with a sacrifice fly to give VSU a 9-7 lead after seven.
Donofro blanked the Bucs in the seventh, but CBU would not be denied one inning later. Facing a two-run deficit with VSU's
Quinton Forrester on the hill in relief, Christian Brothers capitalized on a leadoff walk when Taylor King blasted a game-tying, two-run shot over the center field wall for one of his four hits in the game.
In the ninth,
Beau Blair was tagged for his first loss of the season when Casey Goodwin led off the bottom of the frame with a walk-off solo shot to right field.
Valdosta State didn't fold in game two, thanks in large part to the pitching effort of
Austin Hamilton, who dealt a complete-game and allowed just run on two hits with six strikeouts.
The Blazer bats took advantage of the opportunity with 13 hits and a standout performance by Murray, who drove in two of VSU's seven with a homer, a double, and a single. Murray finished the twin bill 5-for-8 at the plate with four runs scored and three RBI's, which boosted his season average up to .533.
Hamilton's only run allowed came in the fourth inning after Michael Halley sandwiched a single between a hit batsman and a walk. The series loaded the bases, but Hamilton limited the damage after forcing Joe Mattson to ground into a double-play. Mickey Smith scored on the play for CBU's lone run. Hamilton's performance led to his second win of the season and pushed the lefty to 2-0 on the year.
The Blazers conclude the weekend series on Sunday afternoon with a 1:00 p.m. EST matchup against the Bucs in Memphis, Tenn.
