VALDOSTA, Ga. – After allowing a leadoff home run to open the game, the Blazers rallied for 14 hits and nine runs as they defeated Georgia College by a final of 9-2 on Tuesday as they swept the season series versus the Bobcats on a beautiful Tuesday afternoon. VSU improved to 17-14 while GCSU dropped to 17-15.
 
Trey Jackson picked up his first win if the year in one innings of work while striking out two on 19 pitches as his ERA has dropped to 3.10 in 2025. At the plate, every Blazer that started recorded a hit as Orlando Pena had another strong outing as he was 2-3 at the dish including a two-run blast for his 12^th homer of the season. Pedro Moreno scored three runs at the leadoff spot as the shortstop went 2-5 on the afternoon with one RBI. Since earning the starting job in center field, Farid Eljaiek has been producing as he was 2-2 with two RBI and swiped his fourth bag of the campaign.
 
Valdosta State used a total of six arms as Dewey Brock drew the start as was marvelous after the first batter as he went 4.0 innings and allowed three hits and one walk while fanning three on 78 pitches on the bump.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Bobcats got on the board early as leadoff hitter Gabe Wuerth lifted a solo shot into right to give GCSU a 1-0 lead. Brock came back to strikeout the second after falling behind 3-0 to Ben Hamacher. Brock would set the next two batter down in order as he recovered from the leadoff home run. The first three batters reached as Moreno singled to third before DJ Banks drew a walk and Marcos Sevillano dropped a perfect bunt to load the bases. After drawing the count full at 3-2, Orlando Pena drew a bases loaded walk to tie the game. Hunter Stowe lifted a fly ball to left center field to give the Blazers a 2-1 lead after an inning of play.
 
Dewey Brock went a perfect 1-2-3 in the top of the second to bring the bats up again. Farid Eljaiek singled to right center and stole second with two outs but was left stranded in the bottom of the second as the score remained 2-1.
 
A bloop single from Carson Phillips opened the top of the as he stole second with no one away. Brock would come back to set down the first batter looking on a full count for the first out of the inning. Brock would retire the next two batters on hard hit balls as the Bobcats went 0-3 with runners in scoring position in the top of the third. VSU tried to ignite a two out rally as Pena singled to left with two away before Stowe doubled into the left field corner but was left stranded as the Blazers led 2-1 through three.
 
Georgia College would go to the bullpen in the bottom of the fourth as Faried Eljaiek walked with one away and hustled to third on a single from Will Beckham to put runners at the corners with one out. Pedro Moreno hit a hard ball to second as the second baseman tossed it to the second baseman over to first, but Moreno's speed beat the throw as Eljaiek scored to grow the lead to 3-1. With two outs and Moreno on first, DJ Banks executed a perfect hit and run as he lined a ball right to where the second baseman would be as Moreno hustled all the way around the bases to make it 4-1 through four innings of play.
 
Trey Jackson entered in relief in the top of the fifth and walked one batter who reached second with one out but was able to strike out the final two batters as the lead sat at 4-1. Hunter Stowe singled in the bottom of the fifth with one away and swiped his second bag of the season before Raynel Ortiz singled into right center on a full count to bring home Stowe as the lead grew to 5-1.
 
After Anthony Martens executed a perfect pickoff in the top of the sixth to gun down a runner, Pedro Moreno opened the bottom of the sixth with a leadoff double. After the next two batters recorded weak outs, Orlando Pena launched his 12^th home run of the year just in front of the scoreboard as the lead balloon to 7-1. Things didn't stop there, as Stowe singled followed by a double from Easton Hood and a walk from Ray Ortiz to load the bases for Farid Eljaiek, who singled to left to bring home two more as it was up to 9-1 through six.
 
The Bobcats would chip into the lead in the top of the eighth as GCSU rallied two hits off VSU reliever Preston Wetherell.
 
Closer Ryan Brown came in to get reps in the top of the ninth and retired the first two with ease until running into trouble by allowing back to back hits before a fielder's choice ended the game as VSU came out with a 9-2 win.
 
The Blazers will wrap up their home series this weekend as they play the Mississippi College Choctaws on Friday, Mar. 28 at 5 p.m. followed by a doubleheader on Saturday, Mar. 29 starting at 1 p.m.