TAMPA, Fla. – Behind a strong hitting attack and seven runs over the final six innings, including three key insurance runs in the ninth, the Valdosta State baseball team upset top-ranked Tampa 8-3 Wednesday evening in a big region game.
 
The Blazers (14-13) snapped a five-game skid and handed Tampa its first loss in ten games.  The Blazers now have won three-straight games in Tampa and seven of the last 11 in the series. 
 
VSU tallied eight runs on 11 hits with one error in the game as four different Blazers had two hits each.  In an entire team effort, junior Logan Stephens came up with a 2 for 5 performance and three RBI to lead the team, while senior Josh Broughton was 2 for 4 with two runs scored and a triple. 
 
VSU began the game with a run in the top of the first as Broughton began the game with a triple to left and Stephens plated the run with a ground out to second for a 1-0 lead.
 
The Spartans (20-6) came back in the bottom of the second with a pair of singles to begin the frame and a RBI single through the left side from Nick Derr for a 1-1 score.  Tampa then used a fly out to center for a sacrifice fly from Nick Detringo for a 2-1 lead.  The Spartans added a run in the third off junior Cooper Cain as he relieved junior starter Tristan Cone.  Behind a walk and a stolen base, put the Spartans in business as Danny Sirven singled through the right side for a 3-1 lead.
 
VSU didn't sweat as it plated four runs in the fourth inning for a 5-3 lead.  Stephens began the inning with a single, but the Blazers then hit into a double play.  Despite the twin killing, the bats came alive with two out as senior Mack Hathcock singled, followed by a walk and a hit batsmen.  A bases loaded walk scored the first run and Hathcock then stole home for a 3-3 score.  Junior Jon Jon Burkett singled up the middle, plating two runs capping the inning and a 5-3 lead.
 
Junior Zach Blankenship (2-2) was masterful in relief after the one inning by Cain as he held the high-powered Tampa attack to just two hits, while fanning three with no walks through 4.1 innings.  VSU had a chance for more in the eighth as Hathcock drew a walk, advanced to second on a passed ball and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt.  From there, Tampa came up with the big play as Hathcock was gunned down at home trying to steal. 
 
In the ninth, Burkett was hit by a pitch and Broughton singled through the left side for two on with nobody out.  A fielding error by the Spartans on a sacrifice bunt from junior Jowenrick Daantji loaded the bases as Stephens came up once again with a hit on a two RBI single to left for a 7-3 lead and important insurance runs for the Blazers.  A RBI single from senior DJ King made the score 8-3 with nobody out.  Tampa then struck out the side with the bases loaded to prevent further damage heading to the bottom of the ninth.
 
A pair of singles began the bottom of the ninth for the Spartans, but senior Trevin Eubanks got a big strikeout for the first out and a passed ball moved the runners into scoring position for Spartan leading hitter Yorvis Torrealba.  Eubanks fanned Torrealba for the second out on a 3-2 count.  A ground out to third ended the game.  Eubanks recorded the save for the game. 
 
VSU returns to action on Saturday and Sunday as it travels to Alabama Huntsville for a Gulf South Conference series.  Check back with vstateblazers.com for links to live stats and streaming of the games.