VALDOSTA, Ga. – Following a weekend split at Union with the rubber match being rained out, the Blazers have their sights set on a Tuesday afternoon game at 4 p.m. versus Columbus State in Columbus, Ga. tomorrow.
The game will be streamed for free on the PBC Network while live stats with also be available. To watch live, please visit the baseball schedule page.
Valdosta State comes into this matchup with a 2-7 record overall and are 1-1 in GSC play. After VSU was originally scheduled to play three at UU this past weekend, the weather altered the schedule to a doubleheader on Friday followed by Saturday's game being postponed to Sunday and then being canceled. The Blazers took game one on Friday by a score of 7-3 as starter
Zac Dodson pitched 6.2 innings and allowed three runs with one of those being earned while surrendering five hits and striking out two. Out of relief,
Anthony Martens inherited runners on second and third with two down as he escaped a jam before going two more innings and allowing two hits while fanning one to seal the win. At the dish, leadoff hitter
Pedro Moreno was the star of the game as he went 2-2 with three walks and two RBI while stealing a base.
DJ Banks had a solid performance at the two spot as the senior went 2-6 with two RBI and a double as he leads the team in RBI with eight. In game two, starter
Hunter Booth did all he could do as he pitched a complete six innings and allowed two runs with one of them being earned as he struck out seven and allowed five hits in the loss. Valdosta State tallied three hits as a team as Union starting pitcher Elijah Ramsey went six strong in the seven inning game with closer Briant Bazydlo closing things out for a 2-1 Bulldogs victory.
As a team, VSU is hitting .269 while opponents are hitting .275 in nine games thus far. In nine starts, Banks is slashing .344/.432/.870 while leading the team in hits and doubles with 11 and three. In the field, Banks has committed one error in 41 chances for a fielding percentage of .976 while turning two double plays at second base. Senior
Easton Hood leads the Blazers in numerous categories as the slugger leads the team in homers with two as he is also leading in OPS with a 1.212 in four starts and just 15 at-bats while also slugging .800.
Columbus State hosts Valdosta State for their 2025 home opener carrying an overall record of 4-5 thus far. The Cougars most recently traveled to Barry University for a three-game series, where the Bucs took the first two before Columbus State stole game three on Sunday afternoon. Columbus State is 2-1 against the GSC this season, as they took two out of three against West Alabama up in Livingston two weeks ago. The Cougars are led by head coach Greg Appleton, who holds a record of 971-505 during his 28 year tenure in Columbus. Appleton led the Cougars to a title in 2002 and appearances in the big game in 2007 and 2018 along with 13 total NCAA postseason appearances. Appleton's leading hitter is junior Cayden Evans, who is batting .457 on the year in nine starts while tallying 16 hits with four doubles and one homer for six RBI. In 35 at bats, Evans has struck out a total of two times while drawing five walks for an OBP of .537. The Cougars are hitting .266 as a squad and have slugged a total of six home runs for 52 driven in while getting on base at a .367 clip. On the hill, Ryan Suppa has made three starts and is 2-1 with an ERA of 3.63 while holding opponents to a .268 batting average.
Following Tuesday's 4:00 p.m. game versus the Cougars, the Blazers are back in Valdosta to host the Trevecca Nazarene Trojans for a weekend series with a single game on Friday, Feb. 21 at 5 p.m. followed by a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 22 with game one starting at 1 p.m.
