OXFORD, Ala. – A five-run top of the fifth inning was enough for West Florida to sneak by Valdosta State on Monday afternoon as the no. 6 seed was victorious of the no. 4 seed Blazers by a score of 7-4. Valdosta State will turn their attention to tonight, as the face the no. 3 seed Delta State in a win or go home game tonight at 8 p.m. ET.
 

Junior Nick Ferrara made his first start of the season and surrendered a leadoff double to open the early morning game. Following the double Ferrara forced a flyout, a groundout, and a strikeout to strand the Argo in scoring position in the top of the first. 2023 All-American Dalton Neuschwander got the call for West Florida, and he breezed through the first three Valdosta State batters to keep the score at 0-0 through one. 

West Florida opened the second just like the first with a leadoff double. A diving catch in left field by sophomore Dennis Pierce saved a run and recorded out number one. A strikeout followed by a groundout to second stranded yet another UWF batter in scoring position in the second inning. Junior Hunter Stowe recorded his seventh hit of the tournament with a single and followed that up with a stolen base with one away. Sophomore DJ Banks drew a walk to put runners at first in second. A fielder's choice followed by a strikeout stranded Stowe at third in the bottom of the second.
 
Ferrara breezed through the top of the third, retiring the Argos in order as Ferrara had three shutout innings under his belt on 41 pitches. A two-out hit by pitch from senior Ryan Romano followed by a four-pitch walk to Pierce sparked a two-out rally. A wild pitch resulted in both Romano and Pierce to advance to second and third. Junior Jovanni Canegitta continued his tear with a two-out single to right to plate two runners and give Valdosta State a 2-0 lead through three.
 
Following back-to-back hits capped off by a double to put runners at second and third, head coach Greg Guilliams elected to go to his bullpen, bringing in sophomore Anthony Martens to try and get the Blazers out of a jam. A sacrifice fly to right followed by two straight groundouts only brought home one Argo run, as VSU led 2-1 through three innings.
 
UWF hit their fourth leadoff base-hit in the top of the fifth, as a sacrifice bunt advanced the tying run to second with one out. A groundout followed by an intentional walk brought Jadon Fryman to the plate, where he finally delivered a two-out hit with on a double to left to tie the game up at two and threatening for more. With runners at second and third, Cade Easterbrook single through the right side to bring home two more and take a 4-2 lead. The next UWF hitter jumped on the first pitch and ripped it down the left field line, bringing home Easterbrook and growing the lead to three at 5-2. Yet another two-out hit brought home the fifth West Florida run of the inning, now up 6-2. Sophomore Raynel Ortiz opened the bottom of the fifth with a leadoff single to left followed by a wild pitch to advance into scoring position. After fouling off five-straight pitches, junior Pedro Moreno was hit by a pitch to put another Blazer runner on. A flyout followed by a double play via obstruction ended the threat with Valdosta State trailing 6-2 through five.
 
West Florida opened the top of the sixth with a solo shot to grow the UWF lead to five. In the bottom half of the inning, Stowe was plunked followed by a walk issued to Banks with one-out as VSU was desperate to get some runs. UWF went to the bullpen and brought in southpaw Gabriel Moorer to face senior David Crawford, who fly out to center for the second out. Another flyout resulted in West Florida leading 7-2 through six.
 
Ray Ortiz led things off with a walk in the bottom of the seventh inning as the lineup card turned over. Pedro Moreno followed that up with a single to right. A fielder's choice cut down the lead runner, as runners were still on first and second with one away. On a 3-1 pitch, Dennis Pierce got the green light and singled to left to bring home Moreno, as VSU still trailed 7-3. Another hit from Jovanni Canegitta brought Ryan Romano around to score as the tying run came to the plate with one out. West Florida made another pitching change to try and slow down Valdosta State's run with Canegitta on first and Pierce on second. Fresh out of the bullpen, Chase Wilkerson forced a 5-3 double play to halt VSU's run, as the Blazers trailed 7-4 through seven.
 
Two batters reached in the top of the eighth for West Florida, but junior Ryan Brown was able to force a weak grounder to second to retire the side in the top half. A quick 1-2-3 in the bottom of the eighth gave Valdosta State three more outs to try and tie the game up.
 
The Argos were looking for insurance in the top of the ninth, as two straight singles put pressure on the Blazers to open the ninth. A wild pitch moved a runner 90 feet away with one out. A perfectly executed 5-4-3 double play stopped the UWF threat heading into the bottom of the ninth. Ray Ortiz flew out to deep left field for out number one in the bottom of the ninth. A one-out single by Pedro Moreno gave VSU some life. Romano lined out to the 3B for out number two. A flyout to centerfield gave West Florida a 7-4 win over Valdosta State.
 
The Blazers' run is not over yet, as they will play Delta State in a win or go home game tonight at 8 p.m. ET.