VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State baseball team closed out their weekend Gulf South Conference series against the West Alabama Tigers out on a high note, taking the series finale with a 10-8 win on Saturday at Billy Grant Field.
 
Valdosta State's biggest offensive inning came in the third when the Blazers posted four runs on just two hits. Elias Macias was hit by a pitch with one out, and Dalton Murray followed with a single to put two aboard. Tiger pitcher Layton Dill proceeded to hit his second batter of the inning, which placed Chipper Andzel on first and loaded the bases for Max Abramson. The sophomore slugger answered the call with his first homer of the season, a grand slam shot to left field that put the Blazers in front 7-2.
 
Valdosta State plated one additional run in each of the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings, the last of which came on a solo shot of the bat of Murray, who went 3-for-4 on the day with an RBI and two runs scored. Those three insurance runs proved to be critical for the Blazers after a couple of big innings for the Tigers down the stretch.
 
Following seven strong innings by Blazer starter Troy Massaro, who ultimately secured the win to improve to 2-0 on the season, UWA was able to chase him from the game with a pair of back-to-back hits in the top of the eighth. The Tigers capitalized on the opportunity against the VSU bullpen by recording three additional hits in the inning, which led to four runs scored and pulled West Alabama back to within four at 10-6.
 
West Alabama made one final push against VSU in the top half of the ninth inning with a pair of runs on two doubles and a single, but Daniel Williams came on to induce a double play and strike out the final batter to seal the deal and land his first save of the season.
 
With the win, VSU improved to 13-6 overall and 6-3 against conference opponents. Meanwhile, the Tigers fell to 11-7 overall and dropped to 5-4 against GSC opponents.
 
Next up for Blazer baseball, it's a midweek non-conference showdown against Flagler in front of VSU's home crowd at Billy Grant Field on Wednesday at 5:00 p.m.