VALDOSTA, Ga. – A dominating pitching performance from Lee's Logan Workman handed No. 11 Valdosta State an 8-0, Gulf South Conference series-opening loss Friday evening at Billy Grant Field at Tommy Thomas Park.  The loss snapped the Blazers' eight-game winning streak.
 
Workman improved to 5-0 on the year with the complete game, one-hit shutout as he allowed one hit in the third inning, while fanning 12 for his second complete game of the season.  VSU senior hurler Zach Blankenship had a strong outing also, but the Blazer offense couldn't crack Workman.  Blankenship fell to 2-1 on the year as he went seven innings, allowing four hits, two runs – one earned and fanned ten. 
 
Lee improved to 11-9 on the year and 4-3 in Gulf South Conference play as it scored eight runs on nine hits, while VSU fell to 12-4 overall and 4-2 in league play.  Lee scored single runs in the fourth and sixth innings and blew the game open with six runs in the eighth. 
 
In a pitcher's duel early, both were on point as Workman entered bosting a league-best 0.27 ERA.  VSU got to a number of 3-2 counts, but was unable to get a hit through the first two innings.  Blankenship had a strong start as well.  Lee's Justin Fragale singled to center in the top of the second, but the Blazers turned a big double play and Blankenship fanned his third of the game for a 0-0 score through two innings. 
 
With one out in the bottom of the third, junior Ryan DelNegro got the first hit of the game for the Blazers, a single through the right side.  Senior Noah Wilkes moved DelNegro to second on a great sacrifice bunt to turn the lineup over.  A passed ball moved DelNegro to third, but Workman got out of it with a fly out to center.
 
Thomas Zazzaro began the top of the fourth with a double to left center.  A fielder's choice put runners at the corners as Zazzaro moved to third with one out.  Fragale hit a safety squeeze for an RBI and a 1-0 lead for the Flames.  Blankenship came back with his sixth strikeout of the game to end the inning.
 
An error began the top of the sixth for Lee and then Zazzaro was called out for obstruction on a bunt. Dylan Standifer laced an 0-1 count RBI double to left center for a 2-0 lead.  Blankenship got out of the jam with his ninth strikeout of the game. 
 
Lee put runners at the corners with nobody out in the top of the eighth as VSU brought in senior Bryce Van Horn to begin the frame.  Blankenship went seven innings, allowing four hits, two runs – one earned and fanned ten in a strong out, but the Blazers weren't able to crack Workman to that point.  Van Horn loaded the bases on a hit batsmen and a fielder's choice sacrifice bunt.  Alan Smith singled home two runs for a 4-0 lead.  Fragale singled home a run to center for a 5-0 score.  Van Horn was replaced by senior Tyler Moore.  On the second pitch from Moore, Ryan Beamish took a deep shot to right for an 8-0 lead.  The six runs by Lee in the top of the eighth tied the most allowed by the Blazers in an inning this season as they allowed six in the fifth inning in the opener against Rollins last weekend. 
 
Fragale went 2 for 3 with a run scored and two RBI, while Beamish was 1 for 4 with a run scored and three RBI on the home run.  DelNegro had the lone hit for the Blazers, going 1 for 2 in the game.
 
The Blazers and the Flames will conclude the series Saturday at Billy Grant Field at Tommy Thomas Park with a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 1 p.m.  The doubleheader will be broadcast on 1150 AM and 94.3 FM with Bill Malone having the call.  Fans also can access links to live stats and audio streaming of the games at vstateblazers.com on the baseball schedule page.