VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State Blazers' six game win streak came to an end on Tuesday night, as they fell to the Saint Leo Lions by a final of 9-4. Saint Leo improved to 16-25 on the year while Valdosta State dropped to 28-18 with the Lions sweeping the season series.
 
SLU outhit VSU 14-9, as they took the lead in the top of the fifth by scoring three runs and making the comeback insurmountable by scoring four in the top of the sixth to make it 9-2. Kaelan Racculia picked up his fifth win of the season as he entered in the bottom of the fifth and logged three innings of work and allowed one run. Trey Jackson was given the loss, as he dropped to 1-2 on the season with an ERA of 6.59. Easton Hood was the lone Blazer to tally two or more hits as the right fielder went 2-2 with a double and a run scored to bring his 2B total to 15 on the season.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
VSU starter Dewey Brock would set the first batter down on strikes as SLU outfielder Dylan Mass followed that up with a single into left center as he swiped second a pitch later. Jovanni Canegitta would save a run at the time as he laid out in right center as Mass moved over to third with two outs. Saint Leo would cash in on the runner in scoring position as Ryan Crivello singled into right as the Lions took a 1-0 lead. DJ Banks would draw a one out walk followed by Canegitta getting hit by the pitch. Hunter Stowe would walk to load the bases, but they were left stranded as the Lions were leading 1-0 after one.
 
After a clean top of the second from Brock, the bottom of the order for VSU would even things at 1-1 as Easton Hood doubled into left center with one out before Will Beckham traded places with his third double of the season as Hood crossed home.
 
Saint Leo would take the lead right back in the top of the third, as an infield single followed by a kicked ball from the second baseman that allowed the lead runner to advance to third, as he scored on a sacrifice fly to make it 2-1 heading to the bottom of the third. Canegitta opened the bottom frame with a double off the wall in right center as Valdosta State looked to retaliate. A groundout from Orlando Pena advanced Canegitta to third, as he was brought home on a sacrifice fly from Hunter Stowe to even things at 2-2 through three.
 
Trey Jackson entered in relief in the top of the fourth and walked a batter but escaped without any damage as he rolled a 6-4-3 double play to send the bats up. Marcos Sevillano and Hood each reached in the bottom half with no one out, but were left stranded as Saint Leo arm Drew Rudsinski was pitching well in relief.
 
Following a flyout to open the top of the fifth, Jackson surrendered back to back singles up the middle followed by a four pitch walk to load the bases. After going ahead 1-2, SLU's Dylan Mass singled into right to give Saint Leo the lead once again, this time at 4-2. Anthony Martens entered as he looked to clean things up. The Lions immediately jumped on Martens as Dylan McDonald singled past the diving third baseman as it was 5-2.
 
The Lions would pour it on in the top of the sixth, as they rallied for five hits and four runs as it was 9-2 heading to the bottom of the sixth as time was running out for the Blazers.
 
Tristin Bohler made his first appearance since mid-March in the top of the eighth and retired the side in order on three weakly hit balls as the Lions were leading 9-3. Valdosta State would scrape together a run in the bottom of the eighth as DJ Banks lifted a sacrifice fly to the warning track as Raynel Ortiz crossed home with VSU trailing 9-4.
 
Valdosta State couldn't rally anything together as they fell by a final of 9-4.
 
The Blazers are back in action this weekend as they hos the West Florida Argonauts for a big three game series starting on Friday, April 25 at 5 p.m.