MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – The Valdosta State Blazer's picked up yet another win as VSU tallied ten hits and only allowed four in a 5-1 win over the Georgia State College on Tuesday afternoon. VSU improved to 13-10 while GSCU dropped to 12-12.
 
Blazer starter Dewey Brock picked up his first win of the year as he went five innings and allowed two hits while striking out two on just 56 pitches. Keaton Fuller picked up his first save as he recorded the final six outs on 19 pitches as he flew through the lineup.
 
The Blazers stranded 13 runners in Tuesday afternoon's game but mashed two home runs as Hunter Stowe hit his fourth and Orlando Pena smoked his seventh on solo blasts. DJ Banks went 2-4 with a double, stolen base, and run scored as he extended his on base streak for a perfect 23 games this season. Marcos Sevillano looked to start a new hitting streak as he went 2-5 while also scoring a run. The defense didn't commit a single error as they were in sync all afternoon in the field.
 
Valdosta State will now continue their road trip for their biggest test of the season as they travel to Cleveland, Miss. for a weekend series with #13 Delta State who are 16-5 on the year and are 10-2 in the GSC as they sit on top of the standings while being winners of three in a row. Game one is slated for Friday, Mar. 14 at 3:00 p.m. ET with game two to follow shortly after in the doubleheader. The final game of the series is on Saturday, Mar. 15 at 2:00 p.m. ET.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Blazers weren't able to get anything going in the top of the first until Marcos Sevillano was able to reach on an infield single to shortstop before he was left stranded. After allowing a leadoff hit in the bottom of the first, Dewey Brock dialed it in by retiring three straight to leave a runner at first with the score at 0-0.
 
Following two quick outs to open the top of the second, Raynel Ortiz was hit by a pitch followed by a walk from Will Beckham to put two on with two out. Farid Eljaiek came in clutch with an RBI single up the middle to plate Ortiz as VSU jumped ahead 1-0. Brock was put in the same situation in the bottom of the second as he allowed a leadoff hit but retied three in a row again as the runner wasn't able to advance past first as he held onto a 1-0 lead.
 
DJ Banks started the top of the third with a double to right as the Blazers were in prime scoring position early. After a flyout for the first out, Orlando Pena showed why he leads the team in RBI as he singled to center to bring Banks around to score to double the lead at 2-0. The defense was helping Brock as he forced three flyouts in the bottom of the third to keep the Bobcats at bay.
 
Valdosta State had their chances to extend the lead in the top of the fourth as Eljaiek drew a walk and stole second before advancing to third on an infield single by Pedro Moreno with two down. Moreno then stole second, but the two speedsters were left on second and third as the next batter was set down on strikes. Brock walked the leadoff hitter in the bottom of the fourth before he rolled a 6-4-3 double play to end any sort of run production from Georgia College as the lead stayed at 2-0 through four.
 
GCSU brought in a new pitcher and VSU was all over him as Sevillano reached second on an error by the shortstop to start things off. Sevillano was able to advance to third on a fly out and later came around to score for another run to make it 3-0. With one down and no one on, Hunter Stowe would launch his fourth home run of the year into left center as the lead grew to 4-0. Head coach Jan Weisberg threw Brock out there for another inning and he continued to force weak contact as he retired the order 1-2-3 through five innings of play.
 
Trey Jackson relieved Brock in the bottom of the sixth and he picked up where Brock left off as he retired the side in order with a popout, groundout, and flyout as the lead stayed at 4-0 through six innings of play.
 
After the Blazers went down 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh, Preston Wetherell came in for Jackson in the bottom of the seventh and walked the first batter before strikeout out the next for the first out. The Bobcats would record their first extra base hit of the afternoon as a double to left center placed runners at second and third with one down. GCSU would score their first run of the afternoon as a grounder brought Smith home with VSU leading 4-1 through seven.
 
DJ Banks would tally a two out hit in the top of the eighth and stole second for his first stolen base of the year. Banks would be left stranded in the top of the eighth as Sevillano grounded out to second for the third and final out. Keaton Fuller came in to pitch in the bottom of eighth and struck out the second batter, but he reached first on a dropped third. Fuller would get out of the inning as he rolled a 6-4-3 double play with Banks making a strong throw to first.
 
Orlando Pena opened the top of the ninth with a line drive solo shot into left field as he added some insurance to extend the lead to 5-1. Stowe was hit by the pitch before Cole Steinmetz drew a five pitch walk as they were threatening with no one out. A grounder moved the runners to second and third before a strikeout and flyout ended the threat with VSU tacking a run on heading to the bottom of the ninth. Fuller continued to pitch in the bottom of the ninth as he looked for a two inning save. Fuller retired the first batter in the bottom of the ninth on the first pitch as Jovanni Canegitta took over in right and immediately recorded an out. After going up 0-2 in the count, Fuller surrendered a single to left as the Bobcats looked for life. Fuller would roll a 4-6 fielder's choice for the second out before Fuller quickly recorded another fielder's choice to give VSU a 5-1 win.