VALDOSTA, Ga. — The Valdosta State baseball team (4-10, 2-4 GSC) returns home to Billy Grant Field this weekend to host Gulf South Conference opponent UAH (5-9, 3-3 GSC) for a three-game series. The series opener had originally been scheduled for Friday evening before being pushed back due to inclement weather. Saturday's doubleheader is set to begin at 1 p.m., with game two scheduled to begin approximately 40 minutes following the conclusion of game one. The series finale is slated for Sunday at 12 p.m.
The Blazers enter the weekend following a road series at Trevecca Nazarene where Valdosta State won the finale 3-2 after dropping the first two contests. Junior Jack Butler earned the win in that matchup, tossing a seven-inning complete game while allowing just two runs on four hits and striking out six batters.
Offensively, junior Charlie Banks has paced Valdosta State on the season, slashing .339/.400/.492 while leading the team with 11 RBI. Banks is also tied for the team lead in home runs with two alongside senior Isaiah Pou. Senior Brent Howard has provided consistency in the lineup, posting a .264/.394/.396 line while drawing a team-high twelve walks.
Junior Matt Keller enters the weekend batting .294 across 14 starts and, along with Pou, remains perfect on stolen base attempts at 3-for-3. Senior Jackson Webster has delivered in key moments for the Blazers, including a game-tying ninth-inning home run against Union and a walk-off base hit in Valdosta State's win over Florida Tech. Webster's .457 on-base percentage leads all qualified Blazer hitters.
Juniors Luke Flading, Jason Mack, and Ryan Strachan have each established steady roles in the lineup while contributing defensively, with Flading in left field, Mack splitting time between shortstop and third base, and Strachan contributing both in the corner infield spots and as a pitcher.
On the mound, senior Drake LaRoche has been Valdosta State's most consistent starter, posting a 4.09 ERA with 17 strikeouts across four starts while earning a win. Junior Garrett Moody has also started four games and leads all Blazers with 23 strikeouts over 17 innings pitched. The team has not settled on a consistent third starter, though that could change after last weekend's complete-game effort from Butler.
Junior Cam Habada has been effective out of the bullpen earning two wins, a .147 opponent batting average, and a 1.13 WHIP across 10.2 innings of relief work. Senior Vinny Del Negro has also provided reliable innings, carrying a 3.18 ERA through 5.2 innings pitched. Sophomore Jacob Page, senior Preston Wetherell, and junior Ty Floyd have all provided 5.0+ innings of quality relief work for the red and black.
UAH enters the weekend after defeating Tuskegee in a midweek matchup following a sweep at the hands of Lee last weekend. The Chargers hold a narrow 46-44 advantage in the all-time series against VSU dating back to 1996, though Valdosta State swept last season's series at Charger Park and will look to gain the edge in the all-time matchup this weekend at home.
Caleb Mahan has led the bats for UAH, slashing at a .439/.500/.488 line and a .988 OPS. Gavin Galenza has provided power with one of four UAH home runs this season while driving in a team-best 12 RBI and reaching base at a .414 clip.
Cole Loftis has anchored the Charger rotation with a 3.50 ERA and 1.33 WHIP across four starts. Tyler Smith has also been a regular starter for UAH, while the third spot in the weekend rotation remains unsettled entering the series.
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.
