MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Valdosta State won their second consecutive series on Saturday afternoon as they took two out of three versus Auburn Montgomery as they split Saturday's doubleheader by winning game one by a final of 6-3 before dropping the final game 7-3. Valdosta State is 22-16 overall and 16-7 in the GSC while Auburn Montgomery is 11-26 overall and 8-16 in GSC play.
 
The Blazers were coasting in game one as they were leading 6-1 heading to the bottom of the ninth where starter Hunter Booth ran into trouble before Keaton Fuller came in to record his second save of the year while Booth improved to 5-4. In game two, the Blazers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead before an error and missed call costed them two runs as the Warhawks when starter Clay Slagle dialed it in and started to churn through the order. In the bottom of the sixth, Drake LaRoche allowed his first earned run of the game as a solo shot gave AUM a 3-2 lead before, they scored four more against the bullpen to come out with a 7-3 win.
 
In game two, DJ Banks extended his on base streak to 38 games as he has been consistent at the number two spot all year. Valdosta State has no midweek game this week before they host the scorching hot Lee Flames for a three game series starting on Friday, Apr. 11 at 5 p.m. followed by a doubleheader on Saturday, Apr. 12 at 1 p.m.
 
After jumping ahead 1-0 in the top of the first, the Blazers never relinquished the lead as they came out with a 6-3 victory thanks to yet another strong outing from Hunter Booth. Booth would log 8.0 innings of work and allowed three runs while fanning six on 111 pitches, which is the most he has thrown in a game this season. At the plate, Andres Natera would log his second three hit game of the year as he would fill the hole of slugger Orlando Pena as the third baseman was ejected following the go-ahead grand slam last night. At the leadoff spot, Pedro Moreno went 1-2 at the plate and walked twice while swiping two bags and being hit by a pitch.
 
GAME ONE: VSU – 6 AUM – 3
Pedro Moreno walked on five pitches and swiped second three pitches later for his 13^th stolen base of the year to lead the team as a runner was in scoring position early. DJ Banks would then run the count full and draw a walk as two were quickly on for VSU. In the midst of a slump, Marcos Sevillano dropped a perfect bunt towards third resulted in a hit as the bases were juiced with no one away. Andres Natera would ground into a 4-6-3 double play but not before Moreno scored as the Blazers led 1-0 early. The Warhawks would use two hits to get runners in scoring position with two down, but Hunter Booth came back with an inside fastball to sit down the final batter of the first inning with a 1-0 lead.
 
Easton Hood doubled into left field with one out and was brought around to score one batter later as Farid Eljaiek hit the ball the same way as the lead doubled to 2-0. As the order turned over, Pedro Moreno snuck one down the right field line to bring home Eljaiek as it was 3-0 heading to the bottom of the second. Booth kept rolling, as he hit one batter but retired the other three quickly as it was all VSU through two.
 
Marcos Sevillano picked up his second hit of game one as he doubled into the right field corner and scored a few pitches later after a wild pitch followed by a single from Andres Natera made it 4-0.
 
After retiring the first batter in the bottom of the fourth, Booth walked the second hitter and allowed a single into left that placed runners at the corners with one gone. Booth never wavered, as he forced a chopper to Natera at third who turned the 5-4-3 double play to escape the jam in the bottom of the fourth as the lead stayed at 4-0.
 
Valdosta State looked to gain more momentum in the top of the fifth as Natera singled to open things up followed by Hunter Stowe being plunked to put two on very quickly. Cole Steinmetz came in and dropped a sacrifice bunt down as both runners advanced into scoring position with one away. Auburn Montgomery relief pitcher would strikeout Hood for the second out but balked a pitch later as Natera would score to grow the lead to 5-0. Stowe would also cross the plate as he hustled home on a wild pitch with the score sitting at 6-0 heading to the bottom of the fifth. The Warhawks would steal one back in the bottom of the fifth as Tucker Burns hit a solo shot into left field with one out as it was 6-1 now. Booth would retire the next two hitters as was through five innings on 61 pitches.
 
In 3.1 innings of relief, AUM right hander Jackson Reed allowed three hits and two earned runs while striking out four with the Warhawks still trailing 6-1 through six. Meanwhile for VSU, Hunter Booth continued to roll as he stayed out of trouble and had retired seven in. row heading to the ninth as the lead stayed at 6-1.
 
Head coach Jan Weisberg kept Booth out there heading to the bottom of the ninth on 98 pitches and allowed the first two to reach via walk and hit with no one out. After running the count full, Booth walked his second batter of the inning and was pulled with the bases loaded and holding onto a 6-1 lead. Keaton Fuller inherited a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the ninth as he looked to help out Booth and secure a series win. Fuller would fan the first batter he saw on three straight pitches before walking the next one on four pitches as it was 6-2 in favor of the Blazers. A wild pitch brought another one in as the tying run was now at the dish with two outs remaining. Fuller would battle back and strike out his second batter of the inning as they were one out away. Fuller jumped ahead 0-2, but Tyrese Rooks battled back and drew a walk to load the bases and bring the winning run to the plate. Once Fuller jumped ahead 1-2, he closed the door on the Warhawks comeback chances as the Blazers took game one by a final of 6-3.
 
GAME TWO: VSU – 3 AUM – 7
VSU starter Drake LaRoche and AUM starter Clay Slagle were dueling early, as each pitcher had allowed one hit through two innings with the score siting at 0-0.
 
Will Beckham opened the top of the third with a line drive single into left just over the leaping shortstop's reach. A wild pitch allowed Beckham to reach second with ease and Pedro Moreno made him pay with a line drive into right center field to plate Beckham as the Blazers took a 1-0 lead. Moreno would then steal second and advance to third on an errant throw from the catcher as Moreno was 90 feet away with one out. Yet another wild pitch from Slagle brought Moreno home as the lead doubled to 2-0. A throwing error by the third baseman placed runners at the corners with no one out in the bottom of the third as AUM was looking to come back with some runs of their own. LaRoche rolled a perfect 6-4-3 double play, but now before a run crossed home as the Warhawks cut into the lead as the Blazers were up 2-1. After a two out hit and stolen base that looked to be out, AUM showed life as they stole a second run back as Hipp singled into center to tie the game up at 2-2. With two down, centerfielder Farid Eljaiek made an amazing catch in center as he laid out to keep things at 2-2 through three.
 
The Blazer bats went ice cold in the fourth and fifth inning as they failed to reach base with the Warhawks slowly gaining momentum. Following a leadoff single in the bottom of the fifth, a sacrifice bunt followed by a groundout brought the go ahead run 90 feet away with two outs. After falling behind in the count, LaRoche elected to intentionally walk the AUM cleanup hitter with a base open. The play worked as LaRoche forced a weak dribbler as Moreno tossed it to Banks at 2B with the score still tied at 2-2.
 
After another clean top half for AUM starter Clay Slagle, LaRoche allowed his first earned run of the afternoon as first baseman Cole Strachan launched a solo shot into left to take a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the sixth. After LaRoche retired the first batter of the inning, VSU went to the bullpen and brought in Trey Jackson, who allowed four runs on 0.2 innings pitched as he AUM all of a sudden jumped out to a 7-2 lead with three outs remaining.
 
The Blazers showed life in the top of the seventh, as Farid Eljaiek drew a walk and would scoot across the bases as two wild pitches followed by a balk made it 7-3 with no one out. A walk from Easton Hood followed by a single from Banks placed runners at first and second for Orlando Pena, who was sat down swinging for the second out. Natera was sat down on strikes as AUM took the final game, 7-3.