VALDOSTA, Ga. – Leading 5-4 heading into the top of the ninth, the Valdosta State baseball team was unable to hang on to the lead as No. 16 West Florida plated three runs in its final at bat for a 7-5 win Sunday afternoon to sweep a three-game series. VSU fell to 13-13 on the year and 4-7 in Gulf South Conference play, while West Florida improved to 18-8 and 11-1 in league play.
VSU raced out to a 5-1 lead through three innings as it plated one run in the first as senior
Mack Hathcock reached on a UWF miscue and scored on a senior
Josh Broughton RBI single for a 1-0 lead. UWF tied the game in the top of the third on a wild pitch, but the Blazers' bats came alive in the bottom of the frame.
Junior
Jowenrick Daantji was plunked by a pitch to begin the frame and Broughton singled up the middle. Senior
DJ King plated Daantji for a 2-1 lead and junior
Logan Stephens tripled to right plated two more and he scored on a passed ball for a 5-1 lead.
In the sixth, UWF began the frame with an infield single followed by a pair of walks from junior
Tristan Cone as junior Sean Gable replaced him. Gable retired two batters, but two out runs proved costly for the Blazers, once again, as Adam Imwalle hit a bases loaded two RBI single and was thrown out trying to reach second base for the final out. The Argos used a leadoff single in the seventh, coupled with a throwing error and passed ball plated a run for a 5-4 score.
Imwalle walked to begin the ninth and stole second as a RBI single plated him. The second miscue by the Blazers proved costly as a RBI single up the middle scored the second run and a sacrifice fly plated the third off senior
Trevin Eubanks.
VSU tallied five runs on six hits with two errors, while UWF had seven runs on nine hits with two errors in the game. Eubanks (0-2) takes the loss as he pitched the final two innings, allowing three hits, three runs – two earned, walked one and fanned two. Kirk Maddox (1-0) takes the win for the Argos in three innings of relief, walking one batter, while Daniel Floyd picks up his third save of the season. Cone went five innings, allowing four hits, three earned runs, walked two and fanned five in the no decision for the Blazers.
Offensively, Broughton was 2 for 5 with a run scored and a RBI, while Stephens was 1 for 4 with a run scored, a triple and two RBI. Dylan Menhennett was 3 for 4 for the Argos with three runs scored and one RBI. VSU left eight runners stranded, while UWF left five on base.
The Blazers, who began the season 8-1, now are 5-12 in their last 17 games, will look to end a five-game skid as they embark on a four-game road trip with a Wednesday matchup at Tampa at 5 p.m., followed by a conference series at Alabama Huntsville next weekend. VSU returns home to host Auburn Montgomery on Mar. 30-31 at Billy Grant Field at Tommy Thomas Park.
