Box Score VALDOSTA, Ga. – Trailing 5-0 heading into the bottom of the ninth, a one out rally had Valdosta State down a single run with the winning run at second base, but the rally fell just short, as Embry-Riddle defeated the Blazers 5-4 on Wednesday night.
 
Valdosta State couldn't get anything going, until junior Hunter Stowe launched a home run into deep left field to cut the deficit to three, as it was 5-2 in the bottom of the ninth. The bats all of a sudden got hot, as sophomore Raynel Ortiz poked one through the left side to keep the rally going. A walk from senior Jacob Harper had first had the tying run at the plate. Three more singles and a fielder's choice had the bases loaded for sophomore Dennis Pierce, who smoked the ball right at third, who was able to collect it and tag the base to silence the crowd.
 
Eight different Blazers recorded as they recorded ten as a team for the night. On the mound, VSU used five different arm which combined for two earned runs and struck out eight Eagle hitters.
 
Things started off slow for both teams. The first two reached in the top of the first inning for the Eagles, as junior Ryan Brown then proceeded to fan the next batter and force two more outs to get out of the inning.
 
In the top of the third, the Eagles were in a similar situation with the two runners on, and just like the top of the first, ERU star Camden Traficante struck out for the second time in as many at-bats, as Brown got out of another jam, tied at zero heading into the bottom of the third.
 
Embry-Riddle was finally able to squeak in a run, as an error and a walk resulted in a sacrifice fly to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead heading into the bottom of the fourth. Through four innings, the Blazers were only able to muster two hits as they trailed 1-0.
 
Ryan Brown was dealing, as the High Springs, Fla. native had gone through five innings with allowing three hits and striking out five. In the bottom of the fifth, Jacob Harper laced a double into left-center field, but the Blazers weren't able to get on the board as they trailed 1-0 through five.
 
Ryan Brown ran into trouble in the top of the Embry-Riddle was able to add four more runs to their lead thanks to clutch baserunning and smart hitting, as they were leading the Blazers 5-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth.
 
Embry-Riddle's Dillon Moran had a phenomenal outing, going six strong innings and struck out eight on Valdosta State while only allowing three hits.  Moran's successor had no problems in relief for the Eagles, until Valdosta State rallied in the bottom of the ninth to knock him out of the game, where Max Meyer came in out of the bullpen and was able to pick up the save, as ERU won 5-4.
 
The Blazers travel to Livingston, Ala. to take on West Alabama starting with a doubleheader on Saturday at 2 p.m.