MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – The Valdosta State baseball team (1-2) fell 16-4 at Barry (3-0) on Sunday afternoon. VSU placed 15 runners in scoring position during the game but only converted two opportunities into runs.
Redshirt freshman Ty Macera made his first career start in the red and black today, allowing three earned runs on one hit and five walks over two innings of work. The Buccaneers blew the game open in the third inning, scoring nine runs in that frame alone to run ahead 10-0. Barry added three more runs in the fourth. Seniors Preston Wetherell and Vinny Del Negro calmed the storm in the fifth and sixth, allowing a single hit and no runs, but Barry tacked on additional runs in the seventh and eighth innings on their way to a 16-4 victory.
Valdosta State responded to the early onslaught with two runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth, but the Blazers were unable to generate offense over the final four innings. Junior Charlie Banks continued to find success in his first weekend as Blazer, singling through the outfield to bring home junior Jason Mack and senior Jackson Webster and put VSU on the board. Banks recorded eight hits, five RBI, and a home run this weekend with two three-hit performances.
Junior Isaiah Pou was responsible for the third Blazer RBI on a sacrifice fly. Junior Ryan Strachan hit two doubles, his first two hits since joining Valdosta State this season. Senior Brent Howard, junior Luke Flading, and junior Matt Keller all reached base on balls in today's contest.
Banks led Valdosta State at the plate, going 3-for-5 with two RBI. Ryan Strachan finished 2-for-5 with two doubles, while Easton Hood, Jason Mack, and Matt Keller each recorded a hit. The Blazers totaled nine hits but left 13 runners on base and went 2-for-15 with runners in scoring position.
Barry was led in hits by Brady Blanks with three and RBI by Zavier Hatfield, who drove in three runs. Jalen Smith and Blake Opie each homered for the Buccaneers. Pavlos Piperakis pitched four solid innings before Barry's bullpen took over and allowed just one earned run over the final five frames.
The Valdosta State baseball team is back in action on the road on Tuesday, Feb. 3rd when they take on Florida Southern (0-3) at 5 p.m. The Mocs opened their season with three-straight losses at West Florida. The Blazers will then return to Billy Grant Field next weekend to host Florida Tech (3-0) in a three-game series. The Panthers swept Spring Hill College in their first series of the season.
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.
