VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State baseball team split a doubleheader in the 2020 season-opener Saturday versus Embry-Riddle at Billy Grant Field at Tommy Thomas Park.  VSU won the opener 6-4 and ERAU won the nightcap 7-3.
 
Valdosta State 6, Embry-Riddle 4 (Game One)
The Blazers jumped out on top early with three runs in the first inning as senior Logan Stephens began the scoring in the bottom of the first with a single to left and advanced to second on a wild pitch.  Senior David Maberry singled to left, plating Stephens and senior Alec Aleywine hit an infield single.  Following a ground out to second, senior Mike Christopoulos singled home a run and Aleywine scored on an error for a 3-0 lead.
 
In the top of the second, ERAU put two runners on base with two out.  Blazer junior catcher Seth Caballes came up with a great diving catch in foul territory to end the threat.  VSU then plated three more runs in the bottom of the third as Christopoulos double home two runs and junior Ryan Delnegro flied out to right for a sacrifice fly RBI and a 6-0 lead.
 
The Eagles scored two runs in the top of the fourth as Cody Foster doubled home two runs with two out for a 6-2 score.  Embry-Riddle added a run in the sixth as VSU made a move to the bullpen in favor of senior Zach Blankenship, who replaced senior starter Tristan Cone.  Once again, VSU got two outs, but the Eagles used an RBI double to right field Mike Lawson for a 6-3 score. 
 
Back-to-back singles up the middle began the top of the eighth for the Eagles.  After an out, Lawson singled up the middle for an RBI and a 6-4 score.  VSU got out of the jam with a double play. 
 
Christopoulos singled to left and advanced to second on a miscue by the Eagles to begin the bottom of the eighth.  ERAU reliever Dillon Moran came back with a strikeout for the first out of the inning and a ground out for the second out and a strikeout to end the inning.
 
The Blazers brought in junior newcomer Jeremy Adams to pitch the ninth to the top of the Eagle order.  Adams got the first out on a deep fly to center.  Following a walk, Adams got the second out with a fly out to center and a ground out to shortstop ended the game.
 
VSU tallied six runs on 11 hits with one error.  Maberry and Christopoulos each were 3 for 4 in the game as Maberry scored two runs and drove in one, while Christopoulos scored one run and drove in three, and recorded a double.
 
Cone (1-0) went five innings, allowing four hits, two earned runs, walked two and fanned six.  Blankenship went three innings, allowing six hits, two earned runs, walked none and fanned two, while Adams walked one in the ninth for the save.
 
ERAU was led by Andrew Martinez and Lawson, who each were 3 for 4 in the game and Lawson drove in two.  Starter Garrett Goodall went three innings, allowing nine hits, six runs – five earned, walked none and fanned one.
 
Embry-Riddle 7, Valdosta State 3 (Game Two)
With two out in the top of the first, Embry-Riddle's Eric Feliz doubled to right center plating two runs for a 2-0 lead.  ERAU pitcher Payton Rice retired the first 12 batters he faced through four innings with four strikeouts. 
 
ERAU added to its lead in the fifth with two out as a miscue by the Blazers proved costly with Cody Forster reaching on the error and scoring on a single from Lawson for a 3-0 lead.  Robert Post doubled home two runs for a 5-0 lead as Aleywine replaced senior starter Cooper Cain on the mound.  Aleywine got out of the inning with a strikeout. 
 
Aleywine began the bottom of the fifth with a double down the right field line for the first hit of the game for the Blazers.  Senior Nick Lewis singled home Aleywine for a 5-1 score and a mound visit by the Eagles.  Rice got out of the jam.  With one out in the top of the seventh, Lawson doubled home a run for a 6-1 score in favor of the Eagles.  A passed ball plated the seventh run of the game and second of the inning with two away.
 
VSU loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the seventh as ERAU went to the bullpen in favor of John Barone, replacing a strong outing from Rice.  An error on the Eagles plated an unearned run for a 7-2 score.  A sacrifice fly plated the third run for the Blazers and a 7-3 score through seven. 
 
With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Lewis doubled down the left field line off reliever Samuel Brunnig.  A walk to junior Jisjar Clotida put two on with the potential tying run on deck, but Brunnig got the second out via strikeout and a ground out to end the game.
 
In the nightcap, VSU had three runs with five hits and two errors leading to four unearned runs, while ERAU had seven runs on seven hits with one error leading to two unearned runs.  Rice (1-0) earned the win, going six innings, allowing four hits, three runs – one earned, walked one and fanned nine.  Cain (0-1) took the loss in 4.2 innings, allowing five hits, five runs – two earned, walked one and fanned three.
 
Lewis went 3 for 4 with a RBI and a double for the Blazers, while Lawson was 4 for 5 with two runs scored and two RBI for the Eagles.
 
VSU continues at home on Tuesday at 5 p.m. versus Thomas University.