VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Blazer baseball team has a big week ahead, as they host no. 7 Saint Leo on Wednesday, April 10 at 5 p.m. before playing host to Delta State for a weekend series starting on Friday, April 12 at 5 p.m. Valdosta State is coming off a series win at Mississippi College and are winners in five of their last six games.
 
The Blazers enter this week's matchups with a 19-13 (12-9 GSC) record and are currently ranked tenth in the most recent NCBWA South Region Poll after they have been receiving votes in previous weeks. Valdosta State baseball is led by head coach Greg Guilliams, who is in his 17^th season at the helm of the Blazers and 34^th as a head coach. During his time in Titletown, he has garnered a record of 492-316-1. The Blazer bats have been hot as of late, and it has all started with junior Pedro Moreno, as the leadoff hitter is batting .349 with a team-leading 45 runs scored and is currently on a 16-game hitting streak. The shortstop has also been an anchor all season, as Moreno has started in all 32 games in the 2024 campaign. Sophomore Dennis Pierce has also started in all 32 games for the Blazers. Pierce is ranked first in the league in on-base percentage with a .531 clip and is ranked fourth in RBIs with 49. On the bump, junior Nick Ferrara had yet another strong weekend, as he recorded two saves in two appearances to rank up his season total to five. In 15 appearances out of the bullpen, Ferrara has held opponents to a .169 batting average and has an ERA of 0.78.
 
On Wednesday, Valdosta State will play host to no. 7 Saint Leo, who defeated VSU earlier this season in Saint Leo, Fla. by a score of 6-2. The Lions have playing exceptional ball this season, as they are 30-5 (14-4 SSC) and are in second place in the conference, just being the unanimous top ranked Tampa. Saint Leo is led by head coach Rick O'Dette, who is 175-110 in seven seasons for the Lions. O'Dette's is aggressive on the base path, as they are ranked first in the SSC and fourth nationally in stolen bases with 124 as a team. There are four individuals who are batting over .300 for the Lions, but they are led by junior Callan Moss who is batting .348 and leads the team in doubles with nine. On the bump, they are led by senior Luke Lashutka who is 8-0 on the season with a 2.14 ERA in a league leading 67.1 innings pitched.
 
Starting on Friday, Valdosta State will square off against the Delta State Statesmen for a single game on Friday at 5 p.m. followed by a doubleheader on Saturday with the first game at 1 p.m. Entering the matchup, Delta State has won eight in a row dating back to March 24. DSU is led by fifth year head coach Rodney Batts, who is 124-87 in his career and is 24-14 (15-6 GSC) on the 2024 season. The offense is led by slugging junior Dylan Coleman, who has 11 homers and 40 RBIs while batting .384 and a .674 slugging percentage. On the hill, the Statesmen are led by junior Logan Eldridge, who is leading the league in ERA with 2.17 in 49.2 innings pitched.
 
Following these matchups, Valdosta State will continue to host as they welcome Georgia Southwestern to town on Tuesday, April 16 at 5 p.m. before Christian Brothers travels to Titletown to wrap-up the home slate on the weekend of April 19.