VALDOSTA, Ga. – Behind five runs in the fifth inning and eight hits for the game, the Valdosta State baseball team defeated the visiting Flagler Saints in the 2022 regular-season finale, 10-7, Wednesday evening at Billy Grant Field at Tommy Thomas Park.
The Blazers improved to 29-12 on the year, while the Saints fell to 23-24.
In the bottom of the second inning, the Blazers recorded two runs as sophomore Carson Neal collected a walk and junior David Crawford reached first on an error, allowing Neal to advance to third. After a pitching miscue from the Saints, Neal was able to cross home and junior Bryson Gandy singled to right field scoring Crawford to give the Blazers an early 2-0 lead.
Flagler pulled within 2-1 in the fourth inning as a groundout followed a walk and a double to bring a runner cross home.
In the fifth inning, the Blazer offense exploded as Gandy hit a double into left field and advanced to third on a passed ball. After another wild pitch from Flagler, Gandy was able to push VSU's lead to 3-1. After sophomore Jacob Harper collected a walk, and Neal was hit by a pitch allowing junior Ryan Romano to cross home. Crawford then hit a single into right center to score junior Jose Crisostomo Bock and a run-down situation allowed Neal to score before the final out to bring VSU's lead to 7-1.
VSU extended its lead to 8-1 in the sixth inning as redshirt senior Luke Ard collected a RBI single through the right side to score freshman Ryan Villaman.
Flagler again brought another run back in the seventh inning as back-to-back passed balls allowed a runner to cross home. Harper interrupted a sacrifice fly attempt at home plate as Gandy caught a flyout in right field and threw out the runner for the second out. The next batter flew out to center field to end the top of the frame for an 8-2 score.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Ard hit a RBI groundout to the first basemen, plating Romano who reached first on a walk and Harper hit an RBI groundout to the shortstop to score freshman Cory McCann for a 10-2 lead.
The Saints began a comeback bid in the top of the ninth inning as the team reached third from a Blazer miscue and then singled to the right center to cut VSU's lead to 10-3. With the bases loaded, Flagler's Zach Thomas singled to center field, scoring two runners to bring the score to 10-5. The Saints hit another single into center field to score two more to cut VSU's lead to 10-7. Junior pitcher Brandon Raiden collected the last strikeout for the Blazers to end the scoring threat and preserve the Blazers' win, 10-7.
Graduate Adrian Garrastazu (3-1) collected the win and recorded six strikeouts, as he held the Saints to two hits, one earned run and one walk in five innings. The Blazer pitching staff combined for a total of eight strikeouts, nine hits, seven runs, five being earned and four walks..
Flagler's pitching staff combined for four strikeouts, eight hits, eight earned runs and eitght walks.
The Blazers ended the regular season recording 376 hits, 22 home runs, 183 walks and 532 total bases. VSU outscored its opponents 274 to 203 and have recorded a .286 batting average. The Blazers recorded their best start to the year since 2003 and were picked second in the initial NCAA South Region rankings this week.
VSU is currently second in the GSC standings behind Delta State, and will be back in action on May 6-10 in the Gulf South Conference Championship in Oxford, Ala. The NCAA South Regional Tournament begins on May 19, and the NCAA Super Regional will follow suit beginning on May 27. The NCAA DII Baseball Championship will be held on June 4-11 in Cary, N.C.
For all updates on Blazer baseball, visit vstateblazers.com or follow Valdosta State Athletics on social media.
