VALDOSTA, Ga - The Valdosta State baseball team returns after a weekend on the road to face West Alabama at Billy Grant Field at Tommy Thomas Park. The matchup is set for a doubleheader starting Sunday, Apr. 11, with first pitch at 1 p.m. followed by a single game the following day at 2 p.m.
 
VSU originally was supposed to play a doubleheader versus the Tigers on Saturday and a single game Sunday, but due to the potential for inclement weather, the Blazers now will play the twin bill Sunday beginning at 1 p.m., and the single game Monday at 2 p.m. All games this season will be nine-innings.
 
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, there will be limited capacity at Billy Grant Field at Tommy Thomas Park during all home baseball games. A hard, limited capacity of 230 (two hundred thirty) fans will be admitted to each home game. Face coverings will be required at all times for all guests over the age of 2. Fans are encouraged to come to Billy Grant Field early to ensure admittance. Doors will open one (1) hour before each game and ticket prices for adults is $5 and senior (65+) and youth (5-College w/ID) ticket prices at $3.
 
The Blazers (14-12, 12-11 Gulf South Conference) are looking to break its six-game losing streak, not having a win since Mar. 23 against Georgia Southwestern. VSU narrowly dropped its last series versus Delta State, only being outscored by four runs. The Blazers finished with 35 hits compared to the Statesmen 34 which included a high-scoring, extra inning thriller where DSU came away with a 15-14 win in 11 innings. Nick Lewis, who finished the weekend with six hits and four RBI, gave the Blazers an 11-10 lead in the top of the ninth before the Statesmen forced extras. Elijah Gill pitched a gem of a game during its first matchup, allowing just four hits and two runs - one earned, from the 28 batters he faced while fanning eight.
 
West Alabama enters with an 11-11 record overall and a 9-10 mark in the GSC. The Tigers have won its last two games and three of its last five. UWA was able to take its weekend series against Montevallo two games to one with both teams even at 22 runs scored. Starting the weekend with a 14-4 loss, UWA was able to bounce back with a 6-5 win followed by a decisive 12-3 win to cap off the series. Despite the weekend series win, the Tigers were outhit 33 to 29 as Montevallo recorded 16 hits during UWA's sole loss.
 
The Tigers are led by junior Jake Nemith who sits at a .365 batting average with his team leading 31 hits and seven RBI. The junior has four doubles on the season during his 85 at bats along with two homeruns. Following Nemith in the hit category is junior Brayden Lyman who has knocked down 25 hits for a .341 batting average and is one of two Tigers to have started every game. He leads the clubhouse with his sole triple, along with the team lead with six doubles and has hit one homerun. Lyman is perfect so far on the basepads, having attempted five stolen bases and succeeding on all of his attempts.
 
On the bump, the Tigers have a combined 185 strikeouts and allow a batting average of .264 with a 6.02 ERA. Junior Connor Brooks leads UWA with 42.2 innings pitched and has started in eight games this season. The Tigers main starting pitcher holds an overall record of 2-3 with a 6.33 ERA. The junior has pitched a complete game shutout and has allowed 44 hits, 34 runs – 30 earned, has fanned 51, and holds his opponents to a .263 batting average. With a perfect 3-0 record on the mound is junior Mason Hollander who has seen the third-most innings this season with 20.1. Hollander holds his opponents to a .219 batting average with a 1.33 ERA off three runs – all earned. The junior has given up 16 hits with four doubles while striking out 21 batters. As a whole, the pitching core has let up 183 hits and 139 runs – 121 earned.
 
As a team, the Tigers are hitting .274 off of 680 at bats and have 186 hits for second to last in the GSC. West Alabama has scored 128 runs on the year with 29 doubles and 106 RBI. The Tigers have been walked 94 times with 182 strikeouts.
 
Among everyday starters, the Blazers are led by David Maberry who is hitting a team-best .394 from the dish, good for sixth in the GSC. Maberry also leads the team with 39 hits which is good for fourth in the GSC and 27th in the nation, right in front of Lewis with 34 hits. Lewis has smacked the most doubles with ten, tied for 32nd in the nation and second in the conference. Ben Rowdon plays the base pads well where he finds himself 23rd in the nation with 12 stolen bases.
 
Lewis is second in batting average among everyday players at a .366 clip. He's appeared in 24 games this season with two homeruns and 20 RBI. He is slugging .538 with a .454 on-base percentage. Jordan Holt, who has 30 at-bats, is hitting at a .433 clip off 13 hits, one double, one triple, and one homerun.
 
As a team, the Blazers are fourth in the league hitting .297 on 268 of 903 from the plate, while scoring 184 runs for 38th in the nation and fifth in the GSC. The Blazers have knocked down 57 doubles, five triples, 18 homeruns and 164 RBI. The team is slugging .431 and reach base at a .391 clip, have been walked 114 times, hit 32 times and fanned 197 times. VSU has 35 errors on the year for a .963 fielding percentage.
 
On the bump, VSU holds a 4.64 ERA in 228.2 innings for sixth best in the league. The Blazers have allowed 240 hits, 145 runs – 118 earned, walked 77 and fanned 238. The opposition is hitting .270 against the Blazers with 50 doubles and 19 homeruns. Senior Tristan Cone is 3-3 with a 4.96 ERA in 45.1 innings with 49 strikeouts. Cone has allowed 46 hits and has walked just nine batters. Sophomore Elijah Gill leads the team with his 55 strikeouts while holding an overall record of 2-3. He has allowed 39 hits with 26 runs – 21 earned, for a 4.33 ERA.
 
Following the series versus West Alabama, VSU will return home for a series against West Georgia set for a doubleheader Saturday, Apr. 2 at 2 p.m., followed by a single game the following day with first pitch set for 1 p.m.