VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State Blazers dropped their home opener on Friday night to the Embry-Riddle Eagles by a final of 4-0. VSU dropped to 1-3 while ERU improved to 2-2. Game two starts tomorrow at 1 p.m.
 
Senior Zac Dodson got his second nod of the season Friday night, as he went five innings and surrendered two earned runs while striking out four. Zack Bennett put together a masterclass for Embry-Riddle, as the righty went seven strong innings while only allowing three Blazer hits. Bennett would fan seven VSU hitters while only walking one batter.
 
At the plate, first baseman Max Kops was the difference maker, as the lefty went 2-4 with 3 RBI including a two-run homer in the top of the third. Three Blazers recorded hits as the bats were shut down all evening.
 
Zac "Doddy" Dodson surrendered a two out hit in the top of the first but was able to get out of the top half with a dribbler to Hunter Stowe at first base. Right hander Zack Bennett retired the Blazers in order of the bottom of the first to keep the game tied at zero.
 
Dodson ran into trouble in the top of the third, as he walked a batter with two outs followed by an opposite field home run from Embry-Riddle's Max Kops gave the Eagles a 2-0 lead heading into the bottom of the third. Marcos Sevillano opened things up in the bottom of the third with a dribbler through the left side. After Farid Eljaiek reached on a fielder's choice, Pedro Moreno rolled over on a grounder to third to leave a runner stranded.
 
Doddy settled back in during the top half of the fourth, as he retired the side in order with the Blazers still trailing 2-0. Zack Bennett continued to roll for Embry-Riddle, as he was through four innings of one-hit ball on just 38 pitches.
 
Senior Orlando Pena led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a double down the left and advanced to third on a wild pitch with no one out. Following a long at-bat, senior DJ Banks was retired swinging for the first out before the next two Blazer hitters were fanned as Bennett was able to get out of a major jam with the Eagles leading 2-0 through five.
 
Senior Trey Jackson came in out the bullpen in the top of the sixth and he ran into trouble, loading the bases with one out. On a 2-2 count, Jackson went up and in for a strikeout to retire the second batter of the top of the sixth. After yet another tough AB, Jackson would catch the ERU batter swinging to strand the bases and give VSU some momentum heading into the bottom half. Bennett extinguished the Blazer momentum as he retired the nine, one, and two hitter in order
 
Jackson would struggle in the top of the seventh, as a leadoff double followed by two sacrifice hits plated a run with two outs. On a 2-1 count, Embry-Riddle's Timo Aracena blasted a ball into right center field to extend the lead to 4-0 through six and half innings. Following a leadoff single from senior Jovanni Canegitta in the bottom half, Bennett rolled a 6-4-3 double play to suppress and sort of VSU momentum.
 
Embry-Riddle would finally go to the bullpen in the bottom of the eighth, as they went to senior Max Meyer. Senior DJ Banks drew a five-pitch walk to open the bottom half. Following a wild pitch and flyout to center, catcher Will Beckham was hit by the pitch to put runners on the corners with one out. The Eagles would get out of yet another jam, as Valdosta State was left looking with runners on the corners to retire the side.
 
It was smooth sailing for the Eagles the rest of the way, as ERU came out with a 4-0 shutout win over VSU.