OXFORD, Ala. – On an 0-2 count with two on and one out in the bottom of the 11
th trailing 12-10, Valdosta State senior
Jisjar Clotida blasted his third home run and most importantly his biggest of the season for a thrilling 13-12, walk-off victory over West Florida in the first game for both teams in the Gulf South Conference Tournament.
The Blazers, who are the No. 2-seed in the tournament, now will face Alabama Huntsville on Saturday at approximately 2 p.m. ET. Fans can access links to live stats and audio/video streaming by clicking here for the GSC Baseball Championship Central webpage. The game also will be broadcast on 94.3 WJEM Fox Sports Valdosta and foxsportsvaldosta.com with
Matt Malone having the call.
The GSC Baseball Championship will be streamed live through FloSports. Fans can purchase a monthly or yearly membership to FloSports by clicking on the link to the right and following the instructions on the How to Sign Up for FloSports page. Fans can purchase a month-to-month plan for $19.99 or a discounted annual subscription rate of $150 ($12.50/month). FloSports partnered with the GSC as the official streaming partner for GSC Football and conference championships. Follow the links to the right for the GSC Baseball Championship Central Page and the Choccolocco Park website.
With the win, VSU improved to 30-12 on the year as it tallied 14 hits and three errors, while UWF fell to 22-23 on the season with 12 runs on 18 hits and two miscues. UWF will face Montevallo in an elimination game on Saturday at 11 a.m. ET.
The Argos jumped out on top in the top of the first on a solo home run from Trent Jeffcoat and a bases loaded infield single with two out for a 2-0 lead. VSU pulled within 2-1 in the bottom of the third as junior
Bryson Gandy doubled to left center and then was replaced at second with an RBI double from junior
Ryan Romano.
The Blazers were unable to score till the third inning until junior
Bryson Gandy doubled to left center and was drove in from a double by junior
Ryan Romano, 3-1. VSU added two runs in the fourth for a 3-2 lead on an RBI ground out and a Gandy RBI single, while the Blazers added another run in the fifth for a 4-2 advantage on an RBI fielder's choice.
In the top of the seventh UWF plated seven runs on six hits and one Blazer miscue, highlighted by a pair of run scoring singles and a two run home run from Alden Davis for a 9-4 lead. The Blazers responded in kind in the bottom of the frame, plating six runs of their own on five hits. Redshirt senior
Luke Ard got things started, plating two runs on an RBI single to right for a 9-6 score, followed by an RBI single to center from junior
David Crawford and graduate student
Mike Christopoulos scored a run on an infield single and Gandy scored two runs for a 10-9 lead.
The Argos wouldn't go away quietly, however, as they used the third home run of the game – this time from Tyler Dowdy to begin the inning for a 10-10 score. Dowdy then singled to begin the top of the 11
th and a single moved the runner to second. A sacrifice bunt, following a pitching change by the Blazers, put runners at second and third. Dean Hotz singled home two runs for a 12-10 UWF advantage.
Not to be out done, the Blazers began the bottom of the frame with a leadoff single from sophomore
Jacob Harper and walk to Christopoulos put two on with one out, prior to Clotida's heroics.