VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State baseball team will host Florida Tech for a three-game weekend series for the Blazers' 2024 home opener on Friday, Feb. 9 at 5 p.m. and on Saturday, Feb. 10 for a doubleheader with the first game starting at 1 p.m.
 
The Blazers are coming off a convincing win in their season opener at Albany State, defeating the Golden Rams 6-1 on Tuesday afternoon. Sophomore Dennis Pierce was the story of the game, launching two balls into orbit en route to a four RBI day. It was a bullpen game for the Valdosta State pitchers, as they used seven pitchers and none of them went over two innings pitched while only two allowed a hit. Junior Keaton Fuller picked up the win on the bump for the Blazers, as the recent Troy transfer was stellar in his two innings of work, striking out three and retiring six of the seven batters he faced. Redshirt junior Hunter Booth was also very efficient, as he logged two innings of work and struck two out and only allowed one runner to reach base via hit by pitch.
 
For the visiting Florida Tech, they enter Titletown with a 2-2 record after taking two out of three versus Spring Hill and dropping a game to Embry-Riddle on Tuesday. Junior Noah Burke has been the Panthers' top hitter so far. The outfielder is batting .400 with one home run and six batters driven in. Sophomore Patrick Cole has been an on-base machine early on, as he has a .643 on-base percentage with two hits, four walks, and has been plunked four times early on.
 
Florida Tech is a part of the Sunshine State Conference, where the Panthers were selected seventh in the 2024 SSC Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll, finishing right behind Nova Southeastern and just ahead of Embry-Riddle. Last season, Florida Tech finished with a 23-26 record.
 
The Blazers and Panthers matched up two times last season down at Daytona Beach, Fla., where they split both matchups. Valdosta State took the first game on Feb. 10 by a score of 4-2 thanks to a three run ninth inning capped off by a walk off two-run shot from former Blazer Bryson Gandy in the comeback win. The other matchup came two days later, where the Panthers came out on top, 14-1. Florida Tech leads the Blazers 7-6 in games since 2011 and have been successful at Billy Grant Field, leading 3-2 over VSU.
 
After this weekend's matchup, Valdosta State will host Thomas University on Tuesday, Feb. 13 at 5 p.m. before welcoming in GSC foe Auburn Montgomery for a weekend series starting on Friday, Feb. 16 at 5 p.m. and a double header on Saturday, Feb. 17 with the first pitch being at 1 p.m.