VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State Blazers host the Auburn Montgomery Warhawks to open Gulf South Conference play with a three-game weekend series at Billy Grant Field here in Titletown. Friday will consist of a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m. followed by a 2 p.m. game on Saturday, Feb. 17.
The Blazers enter this matchup carrying a 4-1 overall record after defeating Thomas University on Tuesday, Feb. 13 by a score of 12-1. The Warhawks enter Valdosta, Ga. with a 4-4 overall record and are currently on a three-game win streak. AUM is entering town having won three of their first four home games, downing Embry-Riddle twice and defeating Georgia Southwestern State on Tuesday in a 14-13 thriller.
Valdosta State is 3-1 at Billy Grant Field this season, having won two out of three versus Florida Tech before dominating Thomas University on Tuesday. In the most recent NCBWA Top 25, The Blazers were among two GSC teams to receive votes to be ranked. Tampa held the top spot, with GSC foe West Florida slotted seventh in the rankings. Alabama Huntsville was the other GSC team to receive votes in the poll.
Sophomore
Dennis Pierce is still leading the way for the VSU offense, as the slugging infielder is slashing .444/.545/.889 in all five starts early on. Pierce also leads the team in RBIs, having driven in ten Blazers as he has been very effective in the three-hole for head coach
Greg Guilliams. The top of the order has been efficient for Valdosta State, as a junior
Pedro Moreno is second on the team in hitting, as the shortstop is slashing .400/.500/.700 at the top of lineup card. The Caracas, Venezuela native has stolen three bases and has a team-leading three doubles.
On the bump, head coach
Greg Guilliams has used a variety of arms, with six Blazers having pitched four or more innings so far this season. Junior
JJ Finn has been Guilliams' top arm, ranking first in the conference in opponent batting average and hits allowed, holding opponents to a .118 average, and allowing two hits in total this season. The Ocala, Fla. native has not allowed a single runner, carrying a 0.00 ERA in five innings pitched. As a team, the Blazers are tops in the conference in batting average, hitting .338 as a team with 18 extra-base hits.
For Auburn Montgomery, they are led by head coach Franklin Bush, who is in his first season at helm of the Warhawks. Bush is well-known around the GSC having spent the previous six seasons at Montevallo as associate head coach and recruiting coordinator. AUM is averaging 6.6 runs per contest and allow a total of 5.1 runs per game. Offensively, junior outfielder Tyrese Rooks has started in all eight games for the Warhawks, slashing .412/.475/.529. On the mound, AUM has used a similar approach as VSU, with five arms having pitched more than five innings.
After this weekend series, Valdosta State will host Quincy on Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 5 p.m. before hitting to road to Cleveland, Tenn. to take on Lee.
With rain expected to come this weekend, be sure to follow us on our socials and vstateblazers.com for live updates.
