DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Down to their final out, the Valdosta State Blazers were able to tie things up versus the Embry-Riddle Eagles in the top of the ninth with a double into left center by junior Hunter Stowe, but eventually fell in extras, 5-4. Valdosta State dropped to 24-17 (16-11 GSC) while Embry-Riddle improved to 24-17 (10-11 SSC). The Blazers will now turn their attention to in-state rival West Georgia, as they make the trip to Carrollton one last time starting on Friday, April 26 at 5 p.m.
 
VSU outhit ERU 10-7 in the game while committing two errors to the Eagles zero. The bullpen was strong for the Blazers, as four arms combined for 5.1 innings and allowed one run on two hits. Senior Ryan Romano walked twice Tuesday evening, as he has now reached base in 30 consecutive games for the Blazers.
 
The Blazers had an opportunity to get on the board early, as junior Pedro Moreno was hit by a pitch and stole a base to put the leadoff hitter in scoring position. Two straight groundouts brought up junior Jovanni Canegitta, who walked followed by a walk to junior Hunter Stowe to load the bases. A strikeout ended the rally heading into the bottom of the first. A single followed by two straight walks loaded the bases for the Eagles with no one out. VSU was able to nab a runner at the plate on a fielder's choice to slow down ERU. A single through the left side put Embry-Riddle up 2-0 through an inning of play.
 
Valdosta State was able to get on the board in the top of the third, as senior Ryan Romano led things off with a walk. A single from sophomore Dennis Pierce had runner on first and second with no one out. A pickoff cut down Romano, as Canegitta followed that up with a double down the left field line to plate Pierce, as VSU trailed 2-1. After a stolen base from Canegitta, he was able to score on a wild pitch to tie things up at two through two and a half innings. The game didn't stay tied for long, as a one out single followed by a costly error in right field allowed a single to turn into a triple, as the leadoff runner scored, and a groundout brought another Eagle to score as they led 4-2 through three innings.
 
In the top of the fourth, back-to-back one out singles from sophomore DJ Banks and Pedro Moreno had Valdosta State in prime scoring position. Romano drew another walk to load things up for the ever so dangerous Dennis Pierce, who laced a ball to the third baseman, who was able to snag the ball and touch the third base bag on a run killing lineout.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, junior Ryan Brown came out of the bullpen in relief, as the southpaw was lights out for the Blazers, going three innings and allowed no baserunners while striking out two on 27 pitches.
 
Both teams were getting each other to roll over on pitches as ERU was still leading 4-2 through seven. In the top of the eighth, senior catcher Jacob Harper tried to ignite a rally with a five-pitch walk. Junior Cole Steinmetz followed that up with a single to left to put the tying run on first with no one out. Sophomore Marcos Sevillano came up and did exactly what was needed with a sacrifice bunt to advance runners to second and third with one out. Head coach Greg Guilliams elected to go to his bench for a pinch-hitter, as he brought in senior David Crawford, who was able to battle after being down 0-2 with a single to right to bring home Harper but Steinmetz was gunned down as he tried to tie things up. Through seven and a half innings, Valdosta State trailed 4-3. Junior Garrett Sagro went to the hill in the bottom of the eighth, as he retired the Eagles in order to give the Blazers a chance to tie things up.
 
Ryan Romano tried to jump on the bullpen in the top of the ninth, as a first pitch flyout gave Valdosta State two more chances to tie things up. Dennis Pierce would put the tying run on base with a five-pitch walk. Canegitta swung late on a two-strike count to bring up Hunter Stowe as the last hope for VSU. On an 0-1 count, the designated hitter smoked a ball into right center as Dennis Pierce hustled home all the way from first to tie things up a 4-4 heading into the bottom of the ninth. Guilliams went to his bullpen again in the bottom of the ninth, as he brought in sophomore Anthony Martens to try and send things to extras. The Blazer bullpen continued to be perfect, as yet another three up three down gave the fans free baseball in Daytona Beach.
 
Following a three-pitch strikeout, David Crawford drew a four-pitch walk in the top of the tenth. A fielder's choice followed by a flyout ended things for VSU in the top of the tenth. In the bottom half, a leadoff double put the game in jeopardy, as a sacrifice bunt moved the winning run 90 feet away with one out. On a 1-2 count, a single to right field gave the Eagles their second 5-4 win over the Blazer this season to sweep the series.