VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Blazer baseball team won their second consecutive GSC series today after splitting the doubleheader versus Alabama Huntsville. Valdosta State finishes the weekend with a 13-11 (8-7 GSC) record while Alabama Huntsville heads home with a 15-11 (4-8 GSC).
 
 
GAME ONE: Valdosta State – 15 Alabama Huntsville - 5
 
In the top of the first, a leadoff hit from Austin Reed was quickly erased by a 4-6-3 double play as redshirt junior Hunter Booth retired the side in order in the top half. In the bottom of the first, junior Pedro Moreno reached on an infield single to start things off strong. Yet another infield single and a throwing error had runners on second and third with no one out. Sophomore Dennis Pierce then proceeded to drop a ball right in front of the Charger left fielder to bring home Moreno and make it 1-0 Blazers. Senior catcher Jacob Harper smoked a ball to centerfield just off the center fielder's glove to bring home Canegitta and Pierce and increase the lead to 3-0. A perfectly executed double steal by head coach Greg Guilliams had Harper steal a run as VSU led 4-0 after one.
 
In the top of the second, consecutive two-out singles with runners in scoring position by Ramie Harrison and Hunter Tillman plated two runs for the Chargers to cut the lead in half as it was 4-2 heading through two innings of play.
 
In the top of the fourth, two straight singles to right had the tying run on second with two outs as Hunter Booth faced off with the UAH leadoff hitter Austin Reed. Booth forced a weak chopper to shortstop Pedro Moreno, who made a strong throw to first to deflate the Charger threat. Three straight hits by the Blazers in the bottom of the fourth had the bases juiced for Dennis Pierce, who laced a ball into the left field corner to clear the bases and extend the lead to 7-2.
 
The fifth inning was just as productive for Valdosta State as the first two batters reached, and a wild pitch had runners at second and third with no one out. David Crawford was able to muscle a ground ball up the gut to bring home two as VSU grew the lead to 9-2. Pedro Moreno smoked a ball into right to advance Crawford to keep the Blazers cooking for Jovanni Canegitta who punched another ball up the middle to plate two and make it 11-2 Valdosta State.
 
In the top of the sixth, the Chargers recorded three hits to bring home a run and knock Hunter Booth out of the game as he left with the Blazers leading 12-5 after six and a half innings. In the bottom of the sixth, David Crawford doubled home sophomore DJ Banks to get it back to a 13-5 lead. Two more hits by Pedro Moreno and Jovanni Canegitta brought home two more Blazers as they grew the lead to 15-5. Valdosta State would run-rule Alabama Huntsville in consecutive games to take a 2-0 series lead.
 
GAME TWO: Valdosta State – 5 Alabama Huntsville – 9
 
Alabama Huntsville jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on three hits as the attacked sophomore Anthony Martens early. Valdosta State starting to get things rolling again in the bottom of the third. Junior Jovanni Canegitta led things off with a double down the left field line. The ever so dangerous Dennis Pierce followed that with a walk which brought up Hunter Stowe, who singled through the left side to get VSU on the board. Graduate Student Owen Lawn drove home Pierce to tie things up at two through three.
 
The Chargers took the lead right back in the top of the fourth on a throwing error that resulted in three unearned runs as UAH led 5-2 heading into the bottom of the fourth. Senior David Crawford hit his second home run of the season to lead off the bottom of the fourth. UAH exploded for four more in the top of the fifth which VSU had no counter to, falling 9-5 in the second game of the doubleheader.

Valdosta State will continue their homestand as they host Eckerd on Tuesday, Mar. 19 at 5 p.m. at Billy Grant Field before playing host to Nova Southeastern next weekend.