HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The Valdosta State Blazers continued to light up the GSC as they took game one by a final of 13-2 in eight innings while improving to 6-9 overall and 5-1 in GSC play as they defeated the Alabama Huntsville Chargers in Huntsville, Ala. on Friday afternoon.
 
After trailing 2-1 through two innings of play, Hunter Stowe blasted a three-run homer in the top of the third on a 2-0 count to center field as the Blazers didn't look back, outscoring the Chargers 12-0 in the final six innings of play.
 
Stowe went 3-4 with a double, four RBI, and three runs scored as he had his best game of the 2025 season in this one. Andres Natera also had his best showing as the shortstop went 3-5 with his second home run of the year and four RBI. DJ Banks nuked his first home run of the campaign as he went 2-3 with three runs scored while he extended his on-base streak to 15 games today. The Blazers were perfect defensively as they didn't commit a single error for the third time this season.
 
Zac Dodson continued to do what he has done all season as he worked through tough outs all afternoon. Dodson would pick up his third consecutive win as he went 6.0 innings and allowed five hits for two earned runs as he racked up a season high seven Ks as he kept the Chargers off balanced all day with the nasty off-speed. Dodson improved to 3-2 on the year and has lowered his ERA to 3.21 while opponents are hitting .257 against him.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
Pedro Moreno quickly looked at two strikes to start the game but then singled into right to extend his hitting streak to five games in the top of the first. DJ Banks would draw the count full before looking at ball four to place runners at first and second with no one out. Jovanni Canegitta dropped a perfect bunt to the pitcher to advance runners into scoring position with one away. A strikeout followed by a chopper to third ended the VSU threat as they couldn't scrape a run together in the top of the first. The Chargers would strike first in the bottom of the first as three straight singles with one out gave UAH a 1-0 lead. A weak grounder followed by a flyout to center ended the Alabama Huntsville threat with a run crossing the plate as they led 1-0 through one.
 
Hunter Stowe led things off with a laser of the second baseman's head to reach first early as Valdosta State looked to get the run back. Easton Hood doubled down the left field line on a 1-1 count as runners placed at second and third with no one out. A strikeout brought Garrett Byrd to the plate, and he was able to bring Stowe around to score as things were even at 1-1 through an inning and a half. Dodson ran into trouble in the bottom of the second as two hit batters resulted in a single to left that brought a runner home to regive the Chargers the lead at 2-1 as Dodson was through two as he allowed four hits and two earned runs while striking out one batter.
 
VSU had the leadoff man reach base for the third consecutive inning as Banks singled the right on an 0-2 count. Canegitta drew a six pitch walk to place runners in scoring position yet again for the Blazers. Andres Natera would tie the game yet again as a chopper through the right side brought Banks around from second as both Natera and Canegitta advanced to second on the throw in with one away. On a 2-0 count, Hunter Stowe got a ball center cut that he launched to center field as Valdosta State jumped ahead 5-2 on a three-run blast from Stowe. Doddy rolled in the bottom of the third as he allowed one walk but struck out four to keep the score at 5-2 though three innings of play.
 
The Blazers would knock Chargers' starter Will Tarpley out of the game in the top of the fourth as Moreno was hit by the pitch to open the top of the inning. Banks reached on a fielder's choice thanks to an error at short as a groundout from Canegitta advanced runners to second and third. Orlando Pena would drive another run home on a grounder as Banks advanced to third with two away. Clutch hitting from Andres Natera brought Banks around to score as Valdosta State was leading Alabama Huntsville 7-2 heading to the bottom of the fourth. Dodson continued to keep the Chargers at bay in the bottom of the fourth as he allowed a single hit but couldn't advance further than second as it stayed 7-2 in favor of VSU.
 
In the top of the sixth inning, DJ Banks hit a no doubt solo shot for his first home run of the year to extend the lead to 8-2. Canegitta followed that up with a double into right center on the next pitch as they were all over UAH relief pitcher Payton Lemons. The Blazers would tack on another run as a double from Stowe with two down kept the line churning for VSU. Marcos Sevillano came in to pinch hit and showed why he has the highest batting average in the GSC as he slapped a ball to left as the lead had ballooned to 10-2 in the sixth.
 
Trent Lewis came in for relief of starter Zac Dodson in the bottom of the seventh as he went a perfect 1-2-3 while striking out the first two hitters before forcing a lazy fly ball for the third out as VSU held a 10-2 lead of UAH through seven innings.
 
Following a drawn walk from Pena to open the top of the eighth, Andres Natera joined in on the home run fun as he smoked his second homer of 2025 into left center to reach a double digit as the Blazers led 12-2 with no one out in the top of the eighth. Farid Eljaiek would pick up his first hit of the game as Henry Alfonso crossed the plate following a walk earlier in the inning as it was now 13-2 heading to the bottom of the eighth. Jaden Paradoa entered the game in the bottom of the eighth as the southpaw took the hill and had no trouble sitting the Chargers to clinch a 13-2 run-rule win.
 
The Blazers are back at it again tomorrow for a doubleheader with game one starting at 12:30 p.m. ET with game two to follow.