CLEVELAND, Tenn. – The Valdosta State Blazers and Lee Flames split the doubleheader on Saturday afternoon in a Gulf South Conference dual. Valdosta State heads back to town with a 7-5 (2-4 GSC) record and Lee wraps up the series with a 10-5 (4-2 GSC) record.
 
GAME ONE: LEE: 10 VALDOSTA STATE: 5
 
An eight-run fifth inning for the Flames ultimately decided game one, as sophomore Anthony Martens got credited with the loss, going 4.1 innings, and allowing seven earned runs on 76 pitches. Offensively, sophomore Dennis Pierce hit his team-leading third homerun of the year. Junior shortstop Pedro Moreno had a strong showing, going 3-5 with two runs scored, a stolen base, a double, and an RBI.
 
The Blazers struck first in the top of the first, as two errors from the Flames resulted in Moreno getting around the bases, as Valdosta State led 1-0 after one inning of play. Lee struck back in the bottom of the second, as they had runners at the corners with no one out, and a sacrifice fly brought home a runner to even it at one. A walk and a passed ball had LU within striking distance, and a single through the right side brought home a run to make it 2-1 in favor of the Flames.
 
Junior David Crawford reached on a one out error in the top of the third, and Moreno doubled down the third base line to being him home and tie the game up at two. Dennis Pierce jumped on the first pitch, singling up the middle to bring home Moreno and make it 3-2 VSU.
 
It was quiet for the next two innings, until Lee exploded in the bottom of the fifth, as a one out double brought home two to give the Flames the lead yet again, leading 4-3. They weren't done there, as three straight LU hits made it 7-3, where VSU went to the bullpen and brought in junior JJ Finn, who retired the first batter he faced then allowed back-to-back homers, as Lee led 10-3 after five.
 
The Blazers were able to muster together two more runs, but eventually fell in game one, 10-5.
 
GAME TWO: LEE: 1 VALDOSTA STATE: 8
 
Valdosta State opted for a bullpen game in the second game of the doubleheader, as VSU used five different arms in the seven-inning win. The Blazer offense drew seven walks for the game and seven different players recorded a hit.
 
VSU had runners in scoring position in the top of the first but weren't able to scrap together any runs. LU struck first in the bottom of the first, as a two-out double from the Flames gave them a 1-0 lead after one inning.
 
The bats came alive in the top of the third, as Valdosta State scored four runs on three hits. Sophomore Marcos Sevillano got things started, singling to left before a fielder's choice brought him into scoring position with one out. A hit batter put runners at corners with one out, and a single through the right side from senior Ryan Romano brought home one before a throwing error plated another to make it 2-1. The very next batter, Pierce singled up the middle to bring home Romano and grow the lead to 3-1. Pierce would get his way to third via stolen base and a throwing error, and junior Jovanni Canegitta brought him home via sacrifice fly to lead 4-1 through three.
 
The bullpen was light-out. Going five strong innings and allowing one hit and one walk while striking out two.
 
The Blazers were able to tack home another run on a bases loaded walk from senior Jacob Harper to make it 5-1. The pen continued to hold the Flames at bay, as whoever was put in did their job and forced weak contact from the Lee hitters.
 
Valdosta State wrapped things up in the bottom of the seventh, as Pierce tossed the ball to junior Nick Ferrara to steal game three of this road conference matchup.
 
Junior Keaton Fuller got credited with the win, as the Fairhope, Ala. native pitched two innings and allowed one baserunner via walk.
 
The Blazers will stay on the road, as they head down to the Sunshine State to Face Saint Leo on Tuesday, Feb. 27 at 5 p.m. before welcoming Union to town next weekend for a three-game series, with game one being on Friday, Mar. 1 at 5 p.m.