WINGATE, N.C. – The Valdosta State baseball team dropped an 8-6 decision at Wingate Friday and came back with a 10-4 win over Florida Tech as it stands at 2-2 on the year.  
 
For the day, VSU junior Jakob Sessa went 4 for 5 with two runs scored, one double and two RBI in the win over Florida Tech, while senior David Maberry went 3 for 8 with three runs scored, two home runs and three RBI in the two games combined.  
 
Wingate 8, Valdosta State 6 
The Bulldogs (2-2) jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the second inning as VSU took the lead in the top half of the frame with a two out single from senior Mike Christopoulos and single from junior Jisjar Clotida and an error on the Bulldogs as Christopoulos scored for a 1-0 lead.
 
In the bottom of the frame, Wingate began with back-to-back doubles for a 1-1 score and the third double of the frame, this time from McCann Mellett put the Bulldogs up 2-1.  With two out and an 0-2 count to Ricky Clark, he singled to left, plating two runs for a 4-1 score.  
 
The bats came alive in the fourth for the Blazers as senior Nick Lewis walked to begin the frame and Maberry belted a two run, home run to right center.  Chistopoulos got into the act with a solo shot to left center for a 4-4 score.
 
VSU then took the lead in the top of the fifth as Lewis hit a two-run dinger for a 6-4 lead with two away in the frame as the Bulldogs made a change on the bump following the home run.  Wingate got one run back in the bottom of the frame as Clayton Nestor belted his second two-bagger of the game, this time for an RBI and a 6-5 score.  
 
The Blazers had a great chance in the seventh with two walks and a sacrifice bunt putting runners at second and third.  A pickoff at first base and a strikeout ended the threat with runners in position.  In the bottom of the frame, VSU got a great play at the plate as Hunter Dula was gunned down by junior Ryan DelNegro preserving the lead.  
 
In the eighth, VSU put two on, once again, but was unable to bring anyone home as a fielder's choice ended the threat.  In the bottom of the inning, Andrew McKay began the frame with a single to center and then stole second, followed by a walk.  Jed Bryant belted a three-run home run down the left field line for an 8-6 Wingate lead.  
 
The Blazers went down in order in the ninth as senior Alex Tyson (0-1) took the loss in relief of senior starter Tristan Cone.  Tyson went three innings, allowing four hits, three earned runs, walked one and fanned two.  Cone went five innings, allowing nine hits, five earned runs, walked two and fanned nine.  
 
Lewis was 1 for 3 for the Blazers with two runs scored, two walks two RBI and a home run, while Christopoulos was 2 for 3 with two runs scored, a home run and one RBI.  VSU had six runs on seven hits with one error for the game. 
 
The Bulldogs were led by Bryant with the winner as he was 2 for 5 with one run scored and three RBI.  Clark was 2 for 5 with two RBI and Nestor was 2 for 3 with a run scored and one RBI.  Tommy McCollum (1-0 earned the win in relief, going 1.2 innings and fanning three.  
 
Valdosta State 10, Florida Tech 4
In the second game, the Blazer bats came alive as they scored ten runs on 13 hits, while holding Florida Tech (1-3) to four runs on eight hits with two errors.  The Blazers scored runs in each of the final four innings of the game, including two in the fourth and four in the sixth for a 6-0 lead. 
 
Maberry got things started with his second home run of the day in the fourth to begin the inning.  Senior Jordan Holt hit an RBI single later in the frame for a 2-0 lead.  With the bases loaded in the sixth, senior Jowenrick Daantji cleared the bases with a three run, triple down the right field line for a 5-0 lead.  He then scored on a wild pitch for a 6-0 advantage. 
 
The Panthers got on the board in the bottom of the inning as Bre Parrish belted a two-run home run to right with two away for a 6-2 score.  Sessa then doubled home two runs in the top of the seventh for the Blazers and an 8-2 advantage, while the Panthers matched the scoring in the bottom of the inning on a two RBI single from Brend Riley.  
 
A wild pitch scored the ninth run for VSU in the eighth and the Blazers capitalized on a miscue from the Panthers in the ninth for a 10-4 score.  VSU junior Weston Bizzle sat the Panthers down in order in the ninth. 
 
Sessa went 4 for 5 with two runs scored and two RBI and one double to lead the Blazers, while Maberry was 2 for 4 with two runs scored and one RBI.  Senior Zach Blankenship (1-0) took the win in six innings of work, allowing five hits, three earned runs, walked none and fanned seven.  Bizzle went two innings, allowing one hit and fanned three.  VSU fanned 11 for the game and walked none. 
 
The Blazers will face Palm Beach Atlantic at 4 p.m. on Saturday to conclude the games this weekend.  Check back with vstateblazers.com on the baseball schedule page for information on the game on Saturday.