VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State Blazers (28-17, 21-8 GSC) will conclude the regular season this week, as they host the Saint Leo Lions (15-25, 6-15 SSC) on Tuesday, Apr. 22 at 5 p.m. followed by the West Florida Argonauts (29-16, 20-10 GSC) on Friday, Apr. 25 at 5 p.m. with a doubleheader on Saturday, Apr. 26 at 1 p.m. with senior night to commence prior to Saturday's game.
 
The Blazers went 4-0 last week, as they defeated Georgia Southwestern on Tuesday by a final of 6-5 before sweeping Christian Brothers by final scores of 21-11, 4-2, and 9-5. 21 runs was the most scored by the Blazers this season and the most since they scored 23 versus Alabama Huntsville back on March 15, 2024. The duo of Hunter Stowe and Orlando Pena went nuclear last week, as they combined for 18 RBI and scored a total of 14 runs. Hunter Stowe went 8-16 at the plate for VSU as the designated hitter smoked five doubles and hit his ninth home run of the season on Tuesday night while driving in eight. Stowe scored a total of five runs and walked three times while swiping a bag in his lone attempt. Orlando Pena mashed two home runs to bring his season total to 18 and drove in ten to bring the RBI total to 71. Pena has not only been one of the best hitters in the conference, but the nation as he leads the south region in HR and RBI and is top three in OPS and slugging percentage.  Valdosta State southpaw Ryan Brown picked up three saves this week as VSU went 4-0. The closer logged 4.0 IP and a singular hit while striking out three and not walking or hitting a batter. Opponents batted .083 against Brown as he locked down Georgia Southwestern and Christian brothers on the road. On the season, Brown holds a 1.33 ERA in 18 appearances out of the bullpen. Brown has a record of 3-1 and is third in the GSC in saves with seven.
 
Looking into Tuesday's game, the Saint Leo Lions also have a new head coach in Josh Keim, who is 15-25 in his first year as the Lions sit towards the bottom of the SSC. These teams squared up back in late February as it ended with a walk off grand slam from Saint Leo's Caleb Adams in the bottom of the ninth as the Lions came out on top, 7-5.
 
The Lions are currently sitting in ninth in the SSC as they are 5-16 in conference play. The road games have not been kind to the Lions, as they are 3-14 on the road. SLU is hitting .282 as a team and have hit 21 home runs while scoring a total of 280 runs. On the mound, Saint Leo has a team ERA of 6.23 with opponents hitting .301 against them while they have allowed a total of 30 home runs. Individually, Thomas DeBrower is leading the team in hitting as he has logged 46 hits in 120 at bats for a batting average of .383 while holding an OBP of .503. Dylan Mass leads the team in stolen bases as he has stolen 28 bases in 30 attempts while also hitting .333 and driving in 21. As a team, the Lions have stolen a total of 123 bases which is good for third in the Sunshine State Conference.
 
Following Tuesday's game Valdosta State will host West Florida in the most important series to date, as the results will decide the fate of the seeding in the GSC Championship next week. Delta State is currently sitting in first place as they hold a 1.5 game lead over the Blazers. The only way VSU can win the conference is if Valdosta State sweeps West Florida and Delta State gets swept by Mississippi College, who sits in fourth. The Argos are currently sitting 1.5 games behind the Blazers for second in the standings. If UWF takes two out of three, VSU will clinch third place in the conference.
 
West Florida will travel to Titletown with a record of 29-16 overall and 20-10 in the GSC. The Argos are led by head coach Mike Jeffcoat, who is 665-366 during his 20 years in Pensacola. West Florida finished sixth in the regular season standings last year but made an improbable run to win the GSC Championship in Oxford, Ala. Jeffcoat's pitching staff has been the best in the GSC this year, as his arms hold an ERA of 3.94 in 45 games which is the best in the GSC. Opponents are hitting .259 against them and have only hit a total of 20 home runs while walking 123, which are both the best in the conference. Senior Dalton Neuschwander has been a top five arm in the conference as the SP is 7-3 in ten starts and holds an ERA of 1.98. The right hander has logged 63.2 innings of work while striking out a team high 57. Jacob Heath has been effective at keeping the ball low, as the starter has yet to allow a home run in 58.0 IP. The fellow starter is 4-3 on the year and carries an ERA of 2.95 with opponents hitting just .263 against him. The West Florida bats are hitting .280 on the year, which is ninth in the GSC. Alex Urias leads the team in batting average as the sophomore is hitting .372 on the season on 42 hits and has driven in 21. The Cumming, Ga. native has struck out a total of nine times in 113 at-bats and has dropped down eight sacrifice hits which is the best on the team. Brantley Willis is leading the charge in total hits as the junior has 54 on the year while ranked second in the GSC in doubles with a total of 16. The Marianna, Fla. product has hit three home runs while driving in 33 in 43 starts. Catcher Brett Rowell leads the squad in home runs and RBI as he has smoked six homers while driving in 36.
 
As for the Blazers, they are ranked fourth in the GSC in batting average as they are batting .297 in 45 games while leading the league in doubles with 85. On the bump, VSU has a team ERA of 5.20 and have walked a total of 143 batters, which is second best in the conference to West Florida. Nationally speaking, Orlando Pena is currently seventh in the nation in home runs with 18 and fifth in runs batted in with a total of 71. DJ Banks is still leading the charge in hits, as the second baseman has tallied 60 in 45 starts while he is batting .333 and driven in 38. Hunter Stowe has started to pick up some steam as he is tied with Banks for second on the team in RBI with 38. The designated hitter has a total of 14 doubles on the season and is second on the team in home runs with nine. Pedro Moreno is leading the team in runs scored with 49 and has swiped 19 bags in 28 attempts as he uses his speed to put pressure on the opposition. Hunter Booth continues to lead the starting unit in ERA as the righty has a 3.37 ERA and picked up his seventh win last weekend to improve to 7-4 on the year. In 74.2 innings pitched, Booth has fanned 68 batters to lead the team while opponents are hitting .235 against him. Drake LaRoche has only walked a total of 13 hitters in 58.1 IP as he has a WHIP of 1.35 in 12 starts this season. LaRoche has a record of 6-2 and holds an ERA of 4.17 while punching out 40.
 
Following the weekend series, Valdosta State will compete in the GSC Championship in Oxford, Ala. at Choccolocco Park starting on Friday, May 2 at a time TBA.