VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State Blazer baseball team will host no. 13 ranked Quincy in Titletown on Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 5 p.m. at Billy Grant Field. The Blazers are coming off a series loss to the Auburn Montgomery Warhawks this past weekend. Quincy is coming off a winless weekend at North Georgia for their opening series.
 
The Blazers are 5-3 early on in the season with a 1-2 record in GSC play. The Quincy Hawks are currently 0-3 after three losses to the hands of North Georgia and are a part of the Great Lakes Valley Conference. At home this season, Valdosta State is currently 4-3.
 
This past week sophomore Dennis Pierce had yet another strong showing for the red and black, going 6-13 in four games played. The recent transfer drove in four runs while also scoring four times himself. Pierce recorded one double for the week and swiped a bag, helping VSU to a 2-2 record. In the field, Pierce recorded 27 putouts in 27 chances at first base and the outfield for the week. On the season, Pierce is slashing .464/.545/.786 through all eight games. The Quakertown, Pa. native currently ranks second in the GSC in batting average for qualified hitters. Senior Ryan Romano had a great weekend against the Warhawks, going 5-9 with a solo shot on Friday night for his first of the season. The former Florida State Seminole has been playing all over the diamond this season, playing third, second, and left field.
 
On the mound, head coach Greg Guilliams has used a variety of different arms, but junior JJ Finn has performed the best early on. The Ocala, Fla. native has appeared in three games out of the bullpen so far and has allowed zero runs on just two hits in nine innings pitched. He is currently holding batters to a .069 batting average, which is tops in the GSC. Finn also carries a .67 WHIP, which is tied for 22^nd nationally. For the starters, sophomore Anthony Martens has performed the best to start the game. The former West Florida Argonaut has started in three games this season and has allowed one earned run in nine innings pitched. Martens has fanned a team high 11 batters and is holding opponents to a .235 batting average.
 
For the Hawks, they finished last season with a 47-11 record, including a 27-5 record in the GLVC. Quincy won the Midwest Regional last season, before falling to the University of Indianapolis in the Super Regional. The Hawks are led by head coach Matt Schissel, who is in his third season at the helm of the program. In his first two seasons, he combined for an 84-36 record. In their first weekend of action, QU combined for a total of nine runs while allowing 23 to North Georgia. On the hill, redshirt junior Griffin Kirn has a stellar first outing, going seven strong innings versus North Georgia on Friday, pitching seven innings, and allowing one earned run on seven hits while striking out four.
 
After tomorrow's game, the Blazers will take the to the road for their first road conference of the season, taking on Lee in Cleveland, Tenn. on Friday, Feb. 23 at 3 p.m. before a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 24 with the first game starting at 4 p.m.
 
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