VALDOSTA, Ga. – A combined six runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings, by the No. 15 West Florida Argonauts proved to be too much as UWF opened the series with a 6-4 victory over Valdosta State Friday evening. 
 
The Blazers (30-13, 18-10 GSC) had four runs on eight hits and one error, while UWF (30-14, 20-8 GSC) had six runs on 12 hits and two errors.  VSU was led by sophomore Jovanni Canegitta who went 2 for 5 with a run scored, a double and one RBI earning Guardian Bank Blazer Player of the Game honors.
 
A single up the middle and a walk put two on for the Argos in the top of the second with one out as VSU graduate student JP Gates retired the first four batters of the game.  An infield single loaded the bases and Josh Prizina singled to right, plating two runs.  Gates got a flyout for the second out, but on a 3-2 count to Trent Jeffcoat, he singled through the left side for a single and a 3-0 lead.  Gates got out of the inning with a strikeout as he threw 33 pitches in the frame after throwing just ten in the first inning.
 
Two uncharacteristic errors on the Argos put two on for the Blazers with nobody out in the bottom of the second.  A fly out to center field moved both runners to second and third.  Sophomore Trent Lewis singled to right, plating Canegitta who had reached on the first error to begin the inning.  Junior Preston Joye put down a great sacrifice bunt, plating the second run of the inning and a 3-2 deficit. 
 
UWF loaded the bases with one out in the top of the third on a pair of singles and a walk.  VSU almost turned two to get out of the inning, but the throw was wide of first as one of the runs scored for a 4-2 Argo lead. 
 
A lightning delay began at 6:09 p.m. with UWF batting in the top of the fourth and nobody out with one on base.  The game resumed at 7:05 p.m., for a 56-minue delay with VSU putting in sophomore JJ Finn to pitch following the delay.  Darrien McDowell singled up the middle with one out and a 3-2 count for a 5-2 lead.  Another RBI single followed for a 6-2 lead for the Argos.  Gates finished pitching three innings, allowing six hits, five runs – four earned, walked two and struck out two. 
 
UWF hurler Dalton Neuschwander came out after the delay to continue the game and walked the first batter he faced in the bottom of the fourth, but came up with a pop out, a fielder's choice and a strikeout. 
 
In the bottom of the graduate student Nick Gonzalez began the frame with a single and then scored o nan RBI single from Canegitta for a 6-3 deficit.  Following a meeting at the mound by the Argos, senior Bryce Gandy drew a walk loading the bases, chasing Neuschwander from the game in favor of Tyler Dowdy.   Sophomore Trent Lewis lined out to left field ending the threat as the Blazers left the bags full.
 
Gandy began the bottom of the eighth with a solo home run to right center and a 6-4 deficit, chasing Dowdy from the game in favor of Salvatore Ferro.  It was Gandy's team-leading 11^th round-tripper of the season.  Following a strikeout, Joye earned a free pass, but a fly out to center followed for two away.  A fielder's choice ended the inning as VSU left its tenth runner stranded on base in the game.
 
Following a three-up-three-down top of the ninth, the Blazers had one last chance in the bottom of the frame.  Ferro sat them down in order for his second save of the season.  Dowdy went 2.1 innings, allowing two hits, one earned run and fanned one to get the win (1-2).  Gates (6-1) took the loss for the Blazers. 
 
Saturday's doubleheader now is scheduled for an 11 a.m. start with Senior Day festivities beginning at approximately 10:30 a.m.