NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Valdosta State baseball team (3-8, 1-2 GSC) travels to Nashville this weekend for a three-game Gulf South Conference series against Trevecca Nazarene (7-3, 3-0 GSC) at Jackson Field. Game one is set for Friday at 4 p.m. ET, followed by a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. ET.
The Blazers enter the weekend motivated after dropping three straight contests following a walk-off victory in their GSC opener against Union last Friday. The team took two losses in a doubleheader against Union on Saturday before falling in a Tuesday night matchup against Georgia Southwestern.
Offensively, junior Matt Keller has paced the Blazers in several categories, leading qualifying hitters with a .368 batting average and .479 on-base percentage. Junior Charlie Banks has been one of the team's most productive hitters, posting a team-best .957 OPS while slashing .354/.415/.542 with a team-high 11 RBI. Banks is also tied with junior Isaiah Pou for the team lead in home runs with two apiece. Pou has reached base at a .396 clip and carries a .459 slugging percentage, while Keller and Pou share the team lead with three stolen bases each.
Senior Jackson Webster has delivered several clutch hits early this season for Valdosta State, including a walk-off single against Florida Tech earlier this season and a game-tying solo home run in the ninth inning against Union last weekend. Senior Brent Howard has been a staple in the lineup, slashing .262/.396/.429 and drawing a team-best 10 walks.
On the mound, senior Drake LaRoche has been steady in his three starts, posting a 3.38 ERA and earning the Blazers' first win of the season. Junior Garrett Moody has been a strikeout leader for Valdosta State, tallying a team-high 20 strikeouts across his three starts. Junior Cam Habada has been reliable in relief, holding opponents to a .143 batting average and posting a 1.04 WHIP over 8.2 innings while earning two wins. Sophomore Jacob Page and senior Vinny Del Negro have combined for 10.0 scoreless innings of relief work.
Trevecca Nazarene enters the series on a six-game winning streak after sweeping Auburn Montgomery in its GSC-opening series and earning a 9-5 road win at Tusculum Tuesday. Cade Moore and Caleb Webster have led the Trojans offensively, each posting OPS marks north of 1.000. Webster has made a noticeable impact as a baserunner with six stolen bags in seven attempts. Jacob Lester leads the team with two home runs, and Tyler Jenkins has driven in a team-high nine runs.
On the mound, Trevecca has relied on a trio of starters who have each made three starts. Jonah Smithson has led the group with a 3.00 ERA, 21 strikeouts, a 1-0 record, and a 1.00 WHIP. Spencer Wilkins has recorded 17 strikeouts and a 1-1 record, while Logan Harrell has also struck out 17 batters in his appearances this season.
Valdosta State holds a 3-0 advantage in the all-time series after sweeping Trevecca in Valdosta last season in the Trojans' first year as a member of the Gulf South Conference. This weekend marks the first time the Blazers will travel to Nashville to face Trevecca Nazarene.
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 continue into GSC play.
