VALDOSTA, Ga. – With the count full and their backs against the wall, Orlando Pena hit the most important home run of his life as he nuked a walkoff three run homer into the Valdosta sky as the Blazers took game one versus the Argonauts, 9-6.

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Valdosta State was trailing 5-1 through two innings of play and were able to tie things up at 5-5 in the bottom of the seventh as DJ Banks laced a bases clearing triple as the energy was starting to shift at Billy Grant Field. After excellent pitching from Trent Lewis in relief, the Blazers were able to place runners at the corners for Raynel Ortiz, who dropped down a perfect sacrifice bunt to give VSU a 6-5 lead in the bottom of the eighth. The Argos were able to get to the lockdown VSU closer in Ryan Brown in the top of the ninth as they tied things up on a solo shot. UWF reliever Chase Stanhope was rattled in the bottom of the ninth as he hit the first two VSU hitters to bring up Orlando Pena. After going to a new arm and running the count full, the third baseman did what every kid dreams of when they step on the ball field as he smoked a no-doubt shot into left field to give Valdosta State the pivotal 9-6 win over West Florida.
 
With the win, Valdosta State improved to 29-18 overall and 22-8 in the GSC and clinched at least second place in the conference. West Florida dropped to 29-17 overall and 20-11 in GSC play with the loss.
 
Pena hit his league leading 19^th home run of the season and has brought his RBI total to 75 on the season as he continues to dominate. DJ Banks went 2-3 at the plate with two runs scored as he drove in four on the evening which is his second best mark of the year. On the mound, Ryan Brown picked up his fourth win of the year as it was bittersweet with him blowing the save. After struggling early, Zac Dodson was able to get six strong innings of work as he allowed a total of five runs with only three of them being earned on 114 pitches. Out of the bullpen, Trent Lewis logged 2.0 innings and struck out one as he has lowered is season ERA to 3.95.
 
Senior day is tomorrow with the festivities starting at 12:35 pm with game two and three to follow.
 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
VSU starter Zac Dodson retired the first batter on a one pitch flyout before hitting the next batter as Brett Rowell battled off five straight foul balls before doubling into right to put two in scoring position. The Argos would strike first a few pitches later as Cade Easterbrook hit a sacrifice fly into right as UWF would lead 1-0 heading to the bottom of the first. DJ Banks singled to third on a sharp line drive with one out as the third baseman couldn't make a clean transfer. Hunter Stowe would single to left on the first pitch as Banks. Hustled to third on a bobble in left field. On a 1-1 count, Jovanni Canegitta would even things at 1-1 with a jam shot dribbler into left as Banks crossed home.
 
In the top of the second, Tanner Taylor drew a full count before taking ball four and was brought home quickly as Brantley Willis homered into right center field to give UWF a 3-1 with no outs. The no. nine hitter in the order would reach on an error a few pitches later and was brought home following a sacrifice bunt and single as the lead grew to 4-1 for West Florida. Yet another Blazer error brought home another run as the lead had balloon to 5-1 in the top of the second. VSU hit three hard hit balls in the bottom of the second, but they found the gloves of UWF outfielders as the Blazers were trailing 5-1 through two.
 
Zac Dodson had a much needed short inning as he retired the Argos in order in the top of the third as he was at 66 pitches on three hits through three. UWF starter Grant Adams followed suit with a quick 1-2-3 of his own as he breezed through the top of the VSU order.
 
Easton Hood opened the bottom of the fifth with a hard hit single into center as Carson Russell followed that up with a five pitch walk to put two on with no one out. Pedro Moreno tried to drop down a bunt for a hit but was out by half a step as both runners advanced to scoring position. DJ Banks would hit a sacrifice fly into right but that is all VSU could muster together as UWF was leading 5-2 through five.
 
Sitting at 95 pitches, Dodson trotted out for the top of the sixth. Dodson would retire the first batter before allowing back to back singles on a grounder to right and a bunt to put runners on first and second with one out. Dodson would force an easy fly ball to left for out number two in the top of the sixth. After falling behind 3-1, Dodson would retire the final batter of the top half with a weak fly ball into center. West Florida starter Grant Adams continued to dominate as he retired the Valdosta State 4-5-6 hitters swiftly as the Argos held a 5-2 lead.
 
Trent Lewis took the mound in the top of the seventh and went a perfect 1-2-3 as the scored still sat at 5-2. Easton Hood hit his team leading 16^th double with one out in the bottom of the seventh. Russell followed that up with a walk as two Blazers were one with one down. Pedro Moreno was plunked by the pitch on a 2-0 count as the UWF pulled Grant Adams for Blake Thomas with the bases juiced and the heart of the VSU order coming up.
 
On a full count, DJ Banks took an outside pitch into right field as the ball sliced into the corner as all three Blazers sprinted around the bases to tie things up at 5-5.
 
The first batter reached in the top of the eighth on an error that was followed up by a strikeout from Lewis for the first out. Zach Stokes would single into right to bring the go ahead run into scoring position. Lewis wouldn't waver, as he forced two weak popouts to keep things tied at 5-5 heading to the bottom of the eighth. Jovanni Canegitta would draw a five pitch walk and steal second three pitches later as the go ahead run moved into scoring position. Following a single up the middle from Andres Natera to put runners at the corners, Raynel Ortiz dropped a perfect sacrifice bunt to plate Canegitta and give VSU a 6-5 lead.
 
Head coach Jan Weisberg turned to Ryan Brown in the top of the ninth as struck out the first batter, but a hanging off-speed pitch was launched by UWF cleanup hitter Cade Easterbrook as things were all even yet again, this time at 6-6. Pedro Moreno and DJ Banks were both hit by a pitch to open the bottom of the ninth. After battling the count full, Orlanda Pena hit a hiiiiigh fly ball deep into the night to walk things off in a 9-6 Blazer win.