SAINT AUGUSTINE, Fla. – The Valdosta State baseball team battled back from a 2-0 deficit for a 7-4 victory at Flagler Tuesday afternoon as the Blazers swept the season series with the Saints.  VSU won the first meeting between the two teams in Valdosta in February, 6-4. 
 
VSU (25-18) tallied seven runs on 11 hits with two errors, while Flagler (27-19), who is leading the Peach Belt Conference, had four runs on nine hits with four errors.  VSU senior DJ King was 3 for 5 with a run scored and a triple, while junior Jowenrick Daantji was 2 for 6 with a RBI and a stolen base.  Junior Jordan Holt went 2 for 5 with two RBI and a run scored as four Blazers had multi-hit games. 
 
For the Saints, Jason Moore went 3 for 4 with a double, scoring a run and driving in one and Connor Laspina went 2 for 4 with two RBI, a run scored and two doubles. 
 
On the mound, VSU junior Tristan Cone began the game, but junior Zach Blankenship earned the win (5-2) going two innings, allowing one hit and fanning six as senior Trevin Eubanks picked up his team-leading sixth save of the year.  Austin Kunde earned the loss in relief of Ryan Ashworth as Kunde went 0.1 innings, allowing two hits, three earned runs and walked one.
 
Flagler began the game with two runs in the first inning, helped out by two VSU miscues for a 2-0 lead, but the Blazers turned a double play to get out of the frame without further damage.  In the second, junior Logan Stephens doubled home King for a 2-1 score and then the Blazers took control in the fourth with three runs as Stephens tallied his second double of the game to begin the inning off Kunde.  An error by the Saints plated the equalizing run as then Holt reached on a RBI fielder's choice highlighting the frame for a 4-2 lead.
 
VSU made the score 5-2 in the sixth as Daantji singled through the left side for a run, but Flagler scored two in the bottom of the frame on Laspina's two RBI double.  VSU responded with a run in the seventh as sophomore Seth Caballes reached on a fielder's choice and the Blazers then added a run in the top of the ninth on Holt's single to left for a 7-4 score. 
 
Eubanks pitched the final two innings, allowing one hit and fanned one for the save. 
 
VSU returns home to close the 2019 regular season this weekend as it faces rival West Georgia at Billy Grant Field at Tommy Thomas Park, beginning Saturday at 2 p.m. with a doubleheader.  Senior Day will be Sunday prior to a 1 p.m. first pitch.