VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State baseball team has the honor of highlighting redshirt senior Luke Ard as this week's Gulf South Conference player of the week, announced by the league office on Tuesday.
 
The Valdosta, Ga., native, hit .615 for the week helping the Blazers to a 3-0 record, including two wins at GSC rival Lee.  Ard was 8 of 13 at the plate with three runs scored, two doubles and drove in six, while slugging .769 and recording ten total bases. He reached base at a .667 clip with one walk and one hit batsmen.
 
Ard had 12 putouts in the outfield for the Blazers in 13 chances. He currently has a five-game hitting streak for the second-highest current streak on the team.  Against Georgia Southwestern in a midweek contest, Ard went a season-best 4 of 5 from the dish with three RBI, one run scored and two doubles.
 
For the season, Ard has started all 13 games for the Blazers it hitting .333 with 18 hits in 54 at bats. He has six doubles, one triple, 15 RBI, seven runs scored and walked once. He is currently slugging .481 and has an on base percentage of .362.
 
The Blazers are back in action on Wednesday, Mar. 2, on the road, in St. Augustine, Fla., facing Flagler College at 5 p.m.
 
Following the matchup with the Saints, the Blazers will host a weekend series with GSC foe Montevallo at Billy Grant Field at Tommy Thomas Park. The series will begin on Friday, Mar. 4, with a single game at 5 p.m., and is scheduled to conclude with a doubleheader on Saturday, Mar. 5, starting at 1 p.m.
 
For all information on Blazer baseball visit vstateblazers.com or follow Valdosta State Athletics on social media.