LIVINGSTON, Ala. – A 12-run sixth inning by the Blazer baseball team was more than enough to take the deciding game three on the road at West Alabama. Valdosta State improved to 11-9 (6-6 GSC) while West Alabama dropped to 11-12 (4-8 GSC).
 
Redshirt junior Hunter Booth improved to 5-0 on the season, as the righty went 5.2 innings and struck out three Tigers while walking three and hitting three. Offensively, Valdosta State was well-rounded as five Blazers recorded two or more hits. Graduate Student Owen Lawn drove in three on two hits with two runs scored, as the first baseman hit his first home run of the 2024 season.
 
The first two innings left both teams with more to be desired, as VSU and UWA left a combined seven runners on base with no one being able to cash in those baserunners. Valdosta State got on the board first in the top of the third, as three straight walks led to a run being walked in, as junior Jovanni Canegitta drew a full count walk to make it 1-0 through three.
 
In the top of the fourth, junior Hunter Stowe came to the dish with two on and two out, and the designated hitter doubled to straightaway center to grow the lead to 3-0. Meanwhile, Booth was rolling through hitters, as he retied the fourth inning in order as he lowered his ERA to 1.45 in 18.2 innings pitched.
 
The top of the sixth was a whirlwind of an inning, as junior Pedro Moreno kicked things off with a leadoff double to jumpstart the offense. An error by the Tiger third baseman allowed sophomore Dennis Pierce to reach and advance Moreno. Yet another Tiger error brought around Moreno and had runners on the corners yet again with no one retired. Senior catcher Jacob Harper singled to right to bring home Pierce and grow the lead to 6-0. Three more errors in the inning by the West Alabama defense gave Valdosta State more and more opportunities, as they produced a whopping 12 runs in the inning to lead 16-0 after six innings. Senior David Crawford lifted his first home run of the season in the top of the seventh to grow the lead to 17-0 heading into the final three outs. The Tigers scraped together three runs in the bottom half of the seventh before a foul out to first base clinched game three, 17-3.
 
Following today's series, the Blazers will continue their road trip as they travel to Americus, Ga. to take on Georgia Southwestern on Tuesday, Mar. 12 at 6 p.m.