VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Blazer bats are red hot, as they scored 18 runs in a mid-week sweep of the Nova Southeastern Sharks on Wednesday afternoon. With the win, VSU improved to 10-9 overall and are winners of five straight and eight of nine heading into a big GSC weekend.
 
Valdosta State mashed back to back to back home runs in the bottom of the fifth as Orlando Pena, Hunter Stowe, and Easton Hood all took Nova Southeastern pitcher Edwin Alicea oppo in the bottom of the fifth with the wind carrying out. VSU has now scored 13 or more runs in five straight games as they sit atop the Gulf South Conference heading into this weekend.
 
Pedro Moreno recorded his second career four hit game as a Blazer as he anchored down the leadoff spot while going 4-6 with four runs scored. Marcos Sevillano extended his hitting streak to 12 as he has hit safely in every game, he has recorded one or more at bat this season. The trio of Pena, Stowe, and Hood gave the Sharks fits as they combined to go 8-13 with five extra base hits while they drove in a combined ten runs. Stowe mashed two homers on the day as his total on the year is now up to three. The Blazers used a total of eight arms as Dewey Brock started and went three innings while allowing four runs and striking out two. Anthony Martens earned his first win as he came in and got out of a bases loaded jam being having a clean inning.
 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Dewey Brock sat the first batter down on three pitches as he caught leadoff man Jack Cue before Justin Wachs drew a six pitch walk with one away. After a deep flyout to left, the Sharks recorded back to back hits to bring Wachs around to score as NSU took a 1-0 in the top of the first. Pedro Moreno singled to third for the first hit and was gunned down trying to steal second a few pitches later as Nova Southeastern starter retired to side in order on 11 pitches.
 
NSU extended the lead to 2-0 in the top of the second as center fielder Zeth Rodriguez lifted a ball to left center that was carried out by the heavy winds. Following a base hit and a. groundout, fellow outfielder Jack Cue carried a ball over the wall in left in almost the exact same spot as the lead grew to 4-0.
 
The Blazers had life in the bottom of the third as Cole Steinmetz was hit by a pitch followed by a one out bunt single from Faried Eljaiek to place two on with one away. Moreno answered the bell with a double down the left field line to bring Steinmetz home to cut the deficit to three. DJ Banks drew a walk to extend is on base streak to 19 games as the bases were now loaded. Marcos Sevillano slapped a double to left on a 2-1 count to bring home two as it was a one run game. Pena would then groundout to bring Banks around to score as it was all even at 4-4 through three.
 
The Sharks would take the lead back in the top of the fifth as a double with runners on the corners gave them a 5-4 lead with the Sharks circling. Following a pitching change, NSU would tack on two more as a ball got caught up in the gusty sky and touched down in right as they jumped ahead 7-4 heading to the bottom of the fifth. VSU stole a run in the bottom of the fifth as Moreno reach on an error before Marcos Sevillano hit another double. The next two pitches, Orlando Pena and Hunter Stowe took the ball to right which brought Easton Hood to plate, who then hit ANOTHER home run to right as the Blazers hit three home runs on four pitches as Valdosta State was leading 9-7 all of a sudden.
 
The Sharks would steal another one back as the wind carried another home run to right field as they tacked on back to back singles after as NSU was threatening to tie the game yet again. An infield single on a blooper to short loaded things up with one away. A sacrifice fly followed by a weak single into center gave NSU a 10-9 lead in the top of the sixth. A leadoff single to second by Moreno followed by a bloop double from Banks brought up Sevillano, who drew a walk to load the bases with one away as the Sharks went to their bullpen to face Pena. Pena lifted a sacrifice fly to center to bring home the tying run on the first pitch he saw. After the bases were run full yet again, East Hood cleared them out quickly with a double into right center as the Blazers regained the lead at 13-10. Steinmetz kept the bats rolling with a double off the batter's eyes in center as the leads was grown to 14-10. Another pitching change didn't change anything for VSU as Will Beckham laced a ball up the middle with the score growing to 15-10 through six innings of play.
 
After hitting and walking a batter in the top of the seventh, relief pitcher Anthony Martens settled in and retired the side without allowing a run in the top half. Valdosta State would scrape together a run in the bottom of the seventh thanks to an error as they led 17-10.
 
Hunter Stowe greeted a fresh arm in the bottom of the eighth with a solo shot into left for his second homer of the night as the lead had ballooned to 17-10. Another Shark miscue brought a run home VSU as they led 18-10 through eight innings of play.
 
Nick Ferrara came in to close out the top of the ninth and allowed two walks before fanning the last batter on strikes to clinch the 18-10 win.
 
The Blazers have one day off before they host the West Alabama Tigers for a doubleheader on Friday, Mar. 7 starting at 2 p.m. before a single game on Saturday, Mar. 8 at 1 p.m.