VALDOSTA, Ga. – Behind 15 strikeouts and timely hitting, the Valdosta State baseball team opened the 2019 home slate with a 6-4, come-from-behind victory over visiting Flagler Tuesday evening.  With the win, VSU improved to 4-0 on the year, while Flagler fell to 3-1. 
 
VSU junior pitcher Zach Blankenship made quick work of the first two Saints, but a pair of singles and then Frankie Martello doubled home a run for a 1-0 lead.  Following that, Sean Lawlor singled to left as Martello was gunned down at the plate to end the frame and a 2-0 lead.
 
The Blazers used a leadoff single from senior Josh Broughton and a great bunt from junior Jowenrick Daantji helped out by an error putting runners at second and third in the bottom of the first.  Broughton scored on a wild pitch and senior Matt Hathcock singled through the right side for a RBI for a 2-2 score through one inning.
 
Blankenship worked through the top of the second inning and forced a 3-2 count on Justin Neo and came up with a strikeout swinging in the dirt for the third out, but an errant throw to first on the gave Flagler a 3-2 lead as it was the second miscue of the inning for the Blazers. 
 
On a 2-2 count in the top of the third, Flagler's Jason Moore belted a solo home run to left center for his second round-tripper of the season and a 4-2 lead.  It marked the first home run allowed by the Blazers this season.  A one out single from senior DJ King and a RBI double from senior Aaron Haughton plated King for a 4-3 score in the bottom of the third and chased Flagler starter Ryan Ashworth from the game in favor of Noah Allen. 
 
Blankenship fanned three in the top of the fourth as Flagler had a one out double, but was unable to score in the frame for the first scoreless inning in the game.  With two out for the Blazers in the bottom of the fourth, two costly miscues by the Saints plated two runs for VSU and the Blazers' first lead of the game at 5-4, chasing Allen from the game.  A walk to Hathcock loaded the bases, but a foul out ended the threat. 
 
VSU capitalized on the fourth miscue of the game by the Saints and scored the sixth run of the game for the Blazers on a wild pitch error for a 6-4 lead through seven innings. 
 
Flagler had one last chance in the top of the ninth as senior Trevin Eubanks retired the first batter and then walked Dillon Reed, putting the potential tying run at the plate.  Eubanks fanned Justin Neo for the second out and fanned the final out for 15 strikeouts in the game by the Blazers.
 
For the game, VSU had six runs on seven hits with two errors, while Flagler had four runs on nine hits and four costly miscues leading to four unearned runs.  Haughton went 2 for 3 with a RBI and a double, while King was 2 for 4 with two runs scored and a RBI.  Blankenship (1-0) went five innings, allowing seven hits, four runs – three earned, walked one and fanned eight.  Eubanks earned his first save of the season.  VSU used four pitchers in the game as all four had strikeouts with the Blazers fanning the Saints 15 times in the game, while VSU struck out just four times.
 
Martello went 3 for 4 with a RBI, while Moore was 2 for 4 with two runs scored, a home run and a RBI.  Ashworth went just 2.2 innings, allowing five hits, three runs – two earned and walked two.  Allen (0-1) took the loss as he allowed two hits, two unearned runs in one inning of action. 
 
VSU now heads to Melbourne, Fla., for three games this weekend as it faces Wingate twice and Florida Tech once, with a single game against Wingate Friday evening and a doubleheader with Wingate and Florida Tech on Saturday.  Links to live stats and streaming of the games can be found at vstateblazers.com on the baseball schedule page.