DAVIE, Fla - The Valdosta State baseball team (0-1) opened its 2026 campaign and first season under head coach J.D. Hulse tonight against the Sharks of Nova Southeastern (1-0). VSU fell 5-4 courtesy of an usual turn of events leading to a walk-off  in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Junior Garrett Moody struck out ten batters tonight through only five innings of work. Moody tossed 88 pitches in his Blazer debut and allowed four runs on just four hits. Junior Cam Habada took over with the score tied 4-4 in the sixth inning and threw two stellar innings, allowing a single hit and punching out three of seven batters faced. Senior Keaton Fuller struck out all three batters he faced in the eighth inning, but after giving up a hit in the ninth, an infield error would combine with a wild pitch to bring the runner home and lead to a Nova Southeastern walk-off victory. Fuller took the loss for tonight's contest.

Despite the loss, the Blazers have reason to be optimistic on offense after several newcomers posted multi-hit performances. Junior Charlie Banks led the newcomers with a trio of hits including a double and RBI-single. Junior Ryan Strachan and senior Brent Howard, two more newcomers, brought home two more runs for the red and black courtesy of sacrifice flyouts. 

Howard connected on a double of his own along with another base hit. Senior Jackson Webster joined the group of new faces with multi-hit days, adding two singles of his own. Senior Luca Maberry was one of two starters who was also with the program in 2025 and was able to connect on a double and single. Fellow returner senior Easton Hood hit a single.

For the Sharks, starter Federico Zapata allowed ten hits in five innings of work but was able to limit the damage to just four runs. A trio of relievers would allow only one Blazer hit over the final four innings. Dakota Jones had two hits, a sacrifice flyout, and scored the walk-off run. Valdosta State out hit Nova Southeastern 11-6 on the night, but the host school's timely baserunning ultimately made the difference, earning NSU the victory in the game's final frame.

The Blazers will get right back to work tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. for another road contest, this time at Palm Beach Atlantic. VSU will close the weekend with a battle against Barry in Miami Shores, Fla. on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Find live stats, written coverage, streaming links, and more on vstateblazers.com and follow @VState_Blazers as well as @VState_Baseball to stay up to date with the team as they roll into their 2026 campaign.