VALDOSTA, Ga. - An emotional Saturday afternoon, which began with a moment of silence in memory of Ami Guilliams, ended in favorable fashion for red and black, as the Valdosta State baseball team notched a doubleheader sweep over the rival Lions of North Alabama (4-1, 6-2) in Valdosta, Ga. at Billy Grant Field at Tommy Thomas Park.
The two wins were critical for the Blazers in regards to postseason seeding, as the Blazers now have an opportunity, pending Sunday's results, to enter next weekend's Gulf South Conference Tournament as one of the top four seeds. The pair of victories improved the Blazers to 32-17 overall and 19-13 in GSC play, which places VSU in a gridlock with Union at fourth place in the current conference standings. Following the losses for North Alabama, the Lions (32-17, 21-11 GSC) will enter Sunday's regular season finale in a dead heat with West Alabama in pursuit of second place.
Valdosta State extended their current winning streak to four games in convincing fashion on Saturday, beginning with a 4-1 win in game one on the back of an impressive performance by starter
Hunter Jones, who improved to 6-3 on the season after holding the Lions to just one run on three hits throughout seven innings of work.
Jones turned the game over to
Roman Donofro, who took over in the eighth and delivered two scoreless innings of work for his second save of the year.
As Valdosta State's pitching flourished througout game one, the Blazer offense used a series of timely hits to support their counterpart.
Dalton Murray, who went 3-for-6 overall on the day, used a fielder's choice to drive in the first run of the game during the opening inning. After the Lions picked up their only earned run of the day in the second,
Tyler Homer negated the tally and returned the lead to the Blazers after a mammoth solo shot well beyond the right field wall.
The Blazers secured their lead with a pair of insurance runs in the eighth, when
Luke Suchon slapped a two-run single to center field to score both
Kendall Herron, who singled earlier in the inning, and
Chipper Andzel, who reached on a walk and stole second base.
Momentum carried over for the Blazers into game two, as VSU pieced together a monster third inning on three hits and one UNA error. Following a one-out triple off the center field wall by Murray, Homer walked and
Elias Macias reached on a two-base error by the Lions' left fielder. With two aboard, senior
Ryan Slaughter swung for one of the biggest hits of the day, a three run blast over the right center field fence to give the Blazers a 4-0 lead.
Murray added a two-run shot one inning later, and the six runs were more than enough for freshman righty
Cooper Cain, who improved to 4-0 on the season with a complete game win. Cain held the Lions to just two runs, both unearned, and struck out six batters while allowing just two hits.
Valdosta State will return to action for the regular season finale against the Lions on Sunday, which will serve as Senior Day at Billy Grant Field at Tommy Thomas Park. Senior festivities will begin at 12:45 p.m. with a recognition ceremony for Valdosta State's eight departing seniors.
