VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State Blazers and the Union Bulldogs split the first two games of the doubleheader on Saturday afternoon, as a three-hour delay in the middle of game one slowed down the Blazer bats early.
 
Game One: Union: 4 Valdosta State: 3
Redshirt Zac Dodson got the nod for game one, as he retired the first two hitters before walking a batter to put one on with two outs. A double into left center from Blake Barret had a Bulldog racing home, but a perfectly executed relay nabbed the runner at home, keeping Union at bay. Both teams were quiet for the next few innings until Valdosta State was able to get on the board with a double from junior Hunter Stowe into the left center gap brought home senior Ryan Romano, as VSU led 1-0 through four. UU retaliated with two in the top of the fifth on three straight hits. Head coach Greg Guilliams elected to go to his bullpen, as Zac Dodson finished with four innings pitched, seven hits allowed, four strikeouts, and allowed two earned runs. Union had a runner on second with one out in the top of the sixth, until lightning was spotted in the area and resulted in a three-hour delay. Out of the delay, junior Nick Ferrara came in and got out of the jam, as VSU trailed 2-1 through six. The Bulldogs tacked on two more in the seventh, as an error resulted in two unearned runs for Union, as they led 4-1. Valdosta State was able to get two home in the bottom of the seventh, as a triple from sophomore Dennis Pierce brought a Blazer home before he later stole home to make is 4-3. The Blazers couldn't muster a hit for the rest of game one, as they fell 4-3.
 
Game Two: Union: 4 Valdosta State: 7
Game two was a seven-inning game due to GSC rules, and since there was such a long delay during game one the Blazers and Bulldogs turned it around quickly. Sophomore Anthony Martens was exceptional, retiring the first ten Bulldog hitters in order, as he gave his offense a chance to spark some offense. The Blazers got it going early, as senior David Crawford smoked a ball into the left field corner to bring home junior Pedro Romano as VSU was on the board early. Ryan Romano doubled and replaced Crawford as it was 3-0 in favor of VSU after one. Valdosta State got back at it in the bottom of the third, as runners at second and third gave senior Jacob Harper a golden opportunity, where he poked a ball up the middle to extend the lead to five. Martens got in trouble in the top of the fifth, as an error gave Union a chance to get back into the game, as they immediately tallied two hits to get on the board directly after the Blazer miscue. A single to the second basemen had Union plate their third run of the inning, as Valdosta State led 6-3 through four and a half. The Blazers stole a run back in the bottom of the fifth as sophomore Marcos Sevillano brought home Hunter Stowe via sacrifice fly to make it 7-3. Greg Guilliams elected to go to his bullpen, as he brought in junior JJ Finn to attempt to retire the final six batters. After plunking the first two, Finn was able to retire the next three to finish the inning unscathed. In the top of the seventh, things got hairy as the first two batters reached base before Finn struck out the next one looking before forcing a shallow flyout. An injury forced Guilliams to pull Finn early, where he elected to go to junior Trey Jackson, who was able to finish the game off after allowing two batters to reach, as VSU beat UU 7-4 in game two.
 
Tomorrow will decide the series, as first pitch is at 1 p.m.