VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State Blazers dropped their second consecutive game on Saturday afternoon as they fell in a 10-3 contest to the Embry-Riddle Eagles. VSU dropped to 1-4 while ERAU improved to 3-2. Valdosta State looks to steal game three tomorrow with first pitch being at 12 p.m.
 
Cole Steinmetz drove in all three runs for the Blazers, as he finished his day going 2-4 including his first homer of the year on a two-run shot in the bottom of the ninth. Starter Hunter Booth was given his first loss of the year, as he went five strong innings while allowing four runs with only of them being earned. Booth would fan five hitters and walk two on the afternoon. The Blazers committed three errors for the second time this season as they also committed three errors last Saturday in a loss at Rollins College.
 
For the Eagles, leadoff hitter Andrew Marinello was a problem, as the right fielder went 3-4 overall with four RBI and a homer. ERAU's starter Kegan Perez went 4.2 innings and allowed a single VSU run while walking three and forcing six flyouts and six groundouts. Out of the bullpen, reliever Tyler Donay went 4.1 innings and was awarded the win while punching out four VSU hitters.
 
The Eagles jumped on Blazer starter Hunter Booth, as a leadoff walk was followed by two hard hit singles to bring home a runner and the Eagles on the corners with no one out. After running the count full, Booth left the ERAU cleanup hitter looking for the first out. After getting ahead in the count 1-2, Booth rolled a perfect 6-4-3 double play to escape the top of the first with only one run allowed.
 
Following two errors by the Valdosta State third baseman, Embry-Riddle leadoff hitter Andrew Marinello took advantage with a towering three-run blast with two away to grow the Eagles' lead to 4-0 heading into the bottom of the second. ERAU starter Kegan Perez was cruising through two innings as he allowed one VSU baserunner via error with the Eagles leading 4-0.
 
Valdosta State showed life in the bottom of the third, as a catcher Will Beckham was at second with one out, for senior Jovanni Canegitta, who singled to right before Beckham was cut down at home on a laser from right field to end the VSU threat as they trailed 4-0 through three.
 
The Blazers scored their first run in the bottom of the fourth as back to back singles from Orlando Pena and DJ Banks brought up senior Cole Steinmetz, who singled past a sliding third baseman to bring home the first VSU run of the afternoon as ERAU was leading 4-1 through four.
 
Hunter Booth started to settle in, as he retired the Eagles in order in the top of the fifth. In the bottom half, a leadoff walk and a two-out walk ran the ERAU pitcher out of the game as they went to Tyler Donay to try and get out of a jam. Stowe was able to make hard contact, but it went right to the second baseman to get the Eagles out of a jam with a 4-1 lead through five.
 
Head coach Jan Weisberg went to the bullpen in the top of the sixth, as he went to righty Trent Lewis in relief. On the first pitch he saw, DH Malachi Pena lifted a homer into left field to extend the lead to 5-1. Lewis continued to run into trouble as a single, followed by a bunt single placed runners on first and second with no one out before a sacrifice bunt moved them over into scoring position. Another single up the middle plated a run as they grew the lead to 6-1 and still threatening for runs. A suicide squeeze brought home the third run and final run of the inning as they were up 7-1.
 
Cole Steinmetz would launch his first homer of the 2025 campaign in the bottom of the ninth to left as the Blazers would drop game two by a final of 10-3.