AMERICUS, Ga. – The Valdosta State baseball team was unable to hang on to a 2-0 lead in the final three innings as Georgia Southwestern plated one run in the seventh and three in the eighth for a 4-2 win Wednesday evening.  VSU fell to 10-6 on the year, while GSW improved to 7-8. 
 
Senior Mike Christopoulos drew a walk on a 3-2 count with two away in the top of the second inning handing GSW pitcher Tucker Smith his first walk in 29 innings.  Smith and Hurricanes got out of the inning with a fly out to right. 
 
A two out hit batsmen on senior Mike Hathcock and a RBI single from junior Jowenrick Daantji for a 1-0 lead in the top of the third.   In the bottom of the fourth, Hathcock made a great diving catch in right field to rob the Canes of a potential run and then turned the second double play of the game to end the threat. 
 
VSU began the top of the sixth after GSW stranded a man at third in the bottom of the fifth with a single from senior Josh Broughton followed by a sacrifice bunt and a RBI single from junior Logan Stephens for a 2-0 lead.
 
A walk and a single put two on for the Canes in the bottom of the sixth with two out and a wild pitch moved the runners into scoring position.  Junior Zach Blankenship got a ground out to short to end the threat. 
 
GSW's Matthew Mamatas doubled to left center and scored on a RBI single from Bo Halcomb for a 2-1 VSU lead in the bottom of the seventh.  VSU relieved Blankenship for junior Bryce Van Horn as he fanned his only batter to get out of the inning. 
 
A hit batsmen began the bottom of the eighth for the Canes.  VSU made a move to the bullpen in favor of senior Call Graham.  A sacrifice bunt moved the runner to second with one away.  A wild pitch moved the tying run to third.  Junior Ethan Koehler became the third pitcher of the inning for the Blazers.  A hit batsmen loaded the bases as VSU brought in junior Alex Tyson.  On the first pitch, Hunter Foster hit a two RBI double to left center for a 3-2 lead as VSU got the second out at home.  Junior Tyler Moore relieved Tyson after the hit for the fifth pitcher of the frame for the Blazers.  Mamatas singled home Foster for a 4-2 score.  Another walk loaded the bases for the second time in the frame bringing up the ninth batter in the inning.  Moore got the final out for a strikeout.  Three walks in the inning proved costly for the Blazers.
 
Stephens began the top of the ninth with a single to right off Harrison Timberlake.  Timberlake came back with three strikeouts for his second save of the season.
 
Graham (0-1) took the loss in 0.1 innings, allowing one earned run and walked one as he faced two batters.  Cole Garrett (1-1) earned the win, pitching the eighth, while Timberlake earned the save. 
 
VSU had two runs on eight hits, while GSW had four runs on seven hits with one error.  Stephens went 3 of 4 with a RBI to lead the Blazers, while Tyler Skelton, Foster and Mamatas each had two hits for the Canes with Foster having the two RBI double. 
 
The Blazers return home to host Union on Saturday and Sunday as they return to Gulf South Conference play.  The doubleheader is set for Saturday at 1 p.m. at Billy Grant Field at Tommy Thomas Park, while the finale will be Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
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