WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Valdosta State baseball team (1-1) rode a high-powered performance on offense tonight to a 15-12 victory at Palm Beach Atlantic (0-2). VSU scored the game's first four runs and put together a six-run fifth inning, which combined with five more runs later to help them survive a late rally from the Sailfish.

Senior Drake LaRoche made his first start of the season tonight, tossing three strikeouts and allowing three earned runs over five innings of work. Sophomore right-handed reliever Jacob Page made a convincing Blazer debut this afternoon, posting two scoreless innings for the red and black on just 21 pitches. The Sailfish started swinging back in the eighth inning, scoring three runs over just two outs against junior Hunter Ward before the Blazers made a change, going with junior righty Hayden Sottile. Sottile stopped the bleeding in the eighth inning, but PBA found four more earned runs in the final frame. Despite some late game defensive woes, the Blazer offense did enough to secure the victory.

The Blazer offense operated with high efficiency and plate discipline in today's win, reaching base 12 times via hit and 11 more times courtesy of walks. Juniors Isaiah Pou and Matt Keller each recorded their first hits as Blazers tonight, posting three hits each. Keller singled three times and walked for a fourth time on base. Pou had three hits including a home run, double, and a pair of RBI. Junior Charlie Banks hit his first home run as a Blazer tonight, also posting a single and a walk. Senior Brent Howard and junior Jason Mack each added two-RBI doubles. Howard showed excellent plate discipline, walking on three different occasions.

Although several newcomers lit up the stat sheet tonight, VSU found key performances from familiar faces as well. Senior Easton Hood brought home the first run of the game courtesy of a triple, also walking later in the game. Senior Luca Maberry walked and was hit by two pitches tonight, resulting in two RBI for the offense. Senior Will Beckham reached base three times and converted all three opportunities into runs. 

Palm Beach Atlantic was led by a four-hit, three-run day from Patrick Rakes. Jake McNamara also tallied three hits for PBA, while Ian Pennington and Finley Holmes each homered for the Sailfish. Starter Nolan Smoot was pulled after allowing five earned runs in three innings, but the PBA bullpen was unable to slow down the VSU attack. Three of four Sailfish relief pitchers gave up two or more runs tonight, with VSU forcing the staff to throw 192 pitches.

The Blazers close out their weekend road trip tomorrow against Barry in Miami Shores, Fla. at 1 p.m. The team will stop in Lakeland, Fla. on Tuesday for a game with Florida Southern at 5 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.