VALDOSTA, Ga. – Troy Massaro helped Valdosta State overcome a slow offensive start to convert a midweek non-conference matchup into a 7-0 victory for Valdosta State on Tuesday afternoon at Billy Grant Field at Tommy Thomas Park in Valdosta, Ga.
The Blazers recorded hits in both the second and third innings, but it wasn't until the fourth that the Valdosta State bats came alive and began producing runs. It started with a
Chipper Andzel walk to lead off the inning, before
Tyler Homer singled to move Andzel up to third base. Homer followed with a stolen base, and back-to-back sacrifice fly balls by
Luke Suchon and
Max Abramson put the Blazers on top 2-0.
As Massaro continued to roll along, allowing just two hits through six innings, VSU padded their lead with a three-run sixth. Suchon walked to spark the rally, and an error by Brewton-Parker's second baseman allowed Abramson to reach safely.
Clint Carr singled to load the bases in the next at-bat, and
David Wortham was hit by a pitch for an RBI. With a 3-0 lead,
Cody Ilgenfritz delivered one of his three hits and the biggest swing of the day for VSU with a two-run double to left. The two-bagger put Valdosta State on top 5-0, and Head Coach Guilliams cycled through one pitcher for each of the remaining three innings to give his pitching contingent some midweek work while holding the shutout intact.
Suchon, who had a big day offensively with three RBI's, left little room for Brewton-Parker down the stretch with a two-run single in the 7
th, which produced the final two runs for VSU and improved the team to 28-15 on the season. The Barons, meanwhile, fell to 7-39 overall.
Massaro picked up the victory to improve to 4-0 on the season. The righty fashioned seven strikeouts during six innings of scoreless work and held Brewton-Parker to just three hits on the day.
The Blazers will turn the page for a quick turnaround, as the team returns to the field on Wednesday for a 4:00 p.m. matchup against Augusta. The non-conference game will take place once again within the friendly confines of Billy Grant Field at Tommy Thomas Park, and live coverage of the game will be available right here at www.vstateblazers.com.
