VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Embry-Riddle Eagles swept the Valdosta State Blazers on Sunday afternoon as ERAU improved to 4-2 and VSU dropped to 1-5. Valdosta State is back in action on Tuesday night as they host Georgia Southwestern at 5 p.m.
 
After falling behind 3-1 to the leadoff hitter, AJ Marinello led the game off with a solo shot into left to put the Eagles up 1-0. After retiring the next two batters on groundouts, LaRoche ran into more trouble as he allowed a single through the right side followed by a walk to put runners at first and second with two down. On a 1-2 count, ERAU catcher Robby Post singled to right center to grow the lead to 2-0. After getting ahead 1-2 yet again, DH Malachi Pena doubled down the left field line to make it 3-0 in the top of the first. Back to back singles from Pedro Moreno and DJ Banks had VSU threatening in the bottom of the first. Jovanni Canegitta drew a full count walk to load the bases with no one retired for cleanup hitter Hunter Stowe, who went down swinging for the first out. Orlando Pena brought Moreno home on a sacrifice fly to right for the first Blazer run of the game. Following a hit by pitch, a miscue between the pitcher and catcher resulted in a play at the plate where Banks pulled off a swim move for the second Blazer run as they trailed 3-2 through an inning of play.
 
The Eagles were threatening again the top of the second, as a hit by pitcher followed by a two-out double to bring up Timo Aracena, who launched his second home run of the weekend into right field to extend the lead to 6-2 heading into the bottom of the second. On the first pitch he saw, senior Easton Hood went oppo taco for a solo shot to open the bottom frame with some momentum. Following a chopper up the middle from Will Beckham, ERAU starter Tristian Harley rolled a perfect 5-4-3 double play to silence the VSU crowd.
 
Head coach Jan Weisberg went to the bullpen early, bring in JJ Finn in relief for LaRoche, who immediately surrendered a home run to Embry-Riddle catcher Robby Post to grow the lead to 7-3. A failed pickoff attempt resulted in an Eagle runner advancing to second who was later brought home on a ground ball up the middle as ERAU led 8-3 through three.
 
The Eagles would tack on three more in the top of the fifth as they left the bases stranded as junior Keaton Fuller worked out of a jam coming out of the bullpen.
 
Not too much happened after that as the Eagles swept the Blazers with a final score of 17-5 on Sunday afternoon.