VALDOSTA, Ga. – Behind eight runs over the first two innings, the Valdosta State baseball team posted an 11-4 win over visiting Albany State Wednesday evening at Billy Grant Field.  Senior Mack Hathcock went 3 for 3 from the plate with two runs scored and a RBI for the Blazers.
 
The Blazers (7-1) scored a season-high 11 runs on ten hits, while Albany State (3-4) had four runs on three hits, highlighted by a three-run home run from Kevin Bryant II for his fourth round-tripper of the season.  VSU senior Josh Broughton went 1 for 5 with a run scored and two RBI, while senior Aaron Haughton went 1 for 3 with a run scored and two RBI.
 
On the mound, VSU played eight pitchers as junior starter Zach Blankenship went three innings, allowing one hit, walked two and fanned three.  Junior Anthony Dahl (1-0) took the win in two innings as he struck out three.  In all, VSU used eight pitchers in the game and fanned 11 to mark an even 100 K's for the season in eight games and 69 innings. 
 
Albany State's Blaylor Galice (0-2) took the loss in 0.2 innings, allowing no hits, six earned runs, walked four and hit two.  The Golden Rams used seven pitchers in the game, walking nine and striking out ten Blazers.
 
In the bottom of the first, Galice retired the first two batters quickly, but plunked Hathcock to start the rally as eight-straight Blazers reached base either by hit, walk or hit batsmen, scoring six runs on two hits.  VSU then added two more runs in the bottom of the second as Hathcock began the frame with a single through the right side, stole second and scored on a throwing error by the Rams.  Haughton later singled home the second run of the inning for an 8-0 lead.
 
VSU plated three more runs for an 11-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth as junior Jowenrick Daantji singled through the left side for a score, while Hathcock singled through the right side and senior D.J. King doubled home a run. 
 
The Golden Rams scored three runs in the top of the sixth on the home run from Bryant II and added a run in the eighth on a single up the middle for the 11-4 score.
 
VSU now has a quick turnaround as it travels to Lee for the 2019 Gulf South Conference opener as the weekend schedule has been altered due to potential weather in Cleveland, Tenn.  VSU now will play a single game against the Flames on Friday at 1 p.m. and a doubleheader Saturday at 2 p.m. 
 
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