ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. - The Valdosta State baseball team scored early and often throughout a nine-inning affair against Wingate, but the Bulldogs used a single eighth inning run to escape with a 7-6 win over the Blazers in non-conference action on Sunday afternoon in St. Augustine, Fla.

Ross Goforth gave the Blazers a loud start at the plate in the top half of the first inning after following a Luke Suchon single and a Max Abramson walk with a three-run homer over the left field wall. The round-tripper marked the first baseman's first of the 2018 season and pushed VSU out to an early 3-0 lead.

Valdosta State's advantage held until the Bulldogs strung together six hits in the bottom of the second inning for four runs, and extended their lead to 5-3 in the bottom of the third when Wingate's Zach Little used an infield single and a stolen base to score from second on a Brett Branton follow-up base hit to center.

In the fifth, O'Kevius Conway worked a seven-pitch walk to start off the frame and managed to score without the benefit of a base hit after advancing to third on a throwing error and scoring on a wild pitch. The run pulled VSU back to within one at 5-4, but Wingate promptly answered with a Branton solo shot in the bottom half of the same inning.

Trailing 6-4 in the top of the seventh, Valdosta State got a spark from Elias Macias, who led off the inning with a double to left. Kendall Herron drove him in two batters later with a single to center, and an RBI double by Aaron Haughton one inning later scored Abramson from second base and tied the game up at 6-6.

Wingate posted the final blow, however, as Ty Andrus reached on a one out double and moved to third on a fly out to center field. Call Graham came on in relief with the go-ahead runner at third, and Andrus crossed on a wild pitch as the deciding run.

Logan Elliott, who gave the Blazers 1.1 innings of relief with two strikeouts and just one hit allowed, suffered the tough loss on the road, and the Blazers fell to 3-4 overall on the young season. Wingate's record improved to a perfect 7-0 after the win.

Next up for Valdosta State, it's a trip to Albany, Ga., where the Blazers will face the Golden Rams on Wednesday, February 14th in a 4:00 p.m. matchup. Look for live coverage of the game at www.vstateblazers.com.