OXFORD, Ala. –  The Valdosta State Blazer baseball team's GSC Tournament run was put to an end on Monday night to the hands of the no. three seed Delta State by a final score of 10-3. The Blazers were walked a total of ten times but were not able to capitalize as the Statesmen pitching came up clutch when needed. Valdosta State dropped to 28-20 while Delta State improved to 31-21.
 
The Blazers' postseason aspirations are now in the hands of the committee, as they will wait for the regional rankings to determine if they get to keep playing baseball in 2024. The updated regional rankings will come out on Wednesday, May 8 followed by the 2024 NCAA Division II Baseball Selection Show, which will air on Sunday, May 12 at 10:30 P.M. ET on NCAA.com. In the most recent regional rankings, Valdosta State was sitting at number seven spot as they hope that this weekend's performance will keep them locked in the same position.
 
Junior Jude Ard was given the ball in a win or go home scenario on Monday night, as he was perfect in the top of the first with a groundout, a flyout, and a strikeout. Junior Pedro Moreno and senior Ryan Romano put the pressure on early, as back-to-back singles opened the bottom of the first frame for VSU. Sophomore Dennis Pierce was grazed by a pitch on a 2-1 count to load the bases with no one out. On the first pitch he saw, junior Jovanni Canegitta lifted a sacrifice fly to left field to plate Moreno for his ninth RBI of the tournament to give Valdosta State a 1-0 lead. Junior Hunter Stowe was also hit by a pitch to load the bases yet again. Delta State elected to go to their bullpen early, bringing in Cade Whitley to face sophomore DJ Banks. Out of the bullpen, Whitley immediately forced a 5-3 double play on his second pitch thrown. The Blazers were leading the Statesmen 1-0 after one inning.
 
A leadoff infield single off the second base bag kicked things off for DSU in the top of the second. A scorcher to right had runners on first and second for the Statesmen as they had two on with no one out. A popout followed by a 6-4-3 double play quickly got Ard out of the jam, as he was at 23 pitches through two. Whitley was just as dominant in the bottom of the second, retiring the side on just four pitch thanks to yet another double play turned.
 
Jude Ard had started to get in a groove in the top of the third until a solo home run on a 1-2 count with two outs by Delta State's Wes Warnock tied the game up at one through three innings.
 
A one-out error at third left followed by a hit by pitch and a walk had Delta State in the driver's seat in the top of the fourth. A shallow fly ball to left retired the second batter as Ard was an out away of getting out of a bases loaded jam. A five-pitch walk gave DSU a 2-1 lead. Trying to get ahead of the next hitter, Ard grooved a fastball that was ripped into right to extend the lead to 4-1. Another two-out hit drove in yet another Statesmen run as the lead ballooned to five. Following a hit by pitch to reload the bases. Head coach Greg Guilliams elected to go to his bullpen, where the new arm came in and was immediately greeted with a grand slam deep into the night as Delta State scored eight unearned runs in the top of fourth as they now led 9-1. Following three free passes issued by DSU, shortstop Pedro Moreno legged out an infield single to score a run as VSU trailed 9-2 through four innings.
 
 
Valdosta State showed life in the bottom of the sixth with an error and walk to put runners on first and second with one away as the order turned over. Another error by the shortstop brought home senior Jacob Harper as VSU still trailed 9-3 through six innings.
 
The rest of the game was quiet as the arms were dialed in for both Valdosta State and Delta State. Valdosta State will have to wait and see if they make the south regional, as the 2024 NCAA Division II Baseball Selection Show will air on Sunday, May 12 at 10:30 P.M. ET on NCAA.com.