VALDOSTA, Ga. - Valdosta State (5-11, 3-5 GSC) split Saturday's Gulf South Conference doubleheader against UAH (6-10, 4-4 GSC) at Billy Grant Field, dropping a heartbreaking opener before responding with a come-from-behind walk-off victory in extra innings in game two.
Game One - Valdosta State 8, UAH 10
Valdosta State built an 8-3 lead over the first eight innings of the opener, but the Chargers erupted for seven runs in the ninth inning to steal the series' first game. Sean Lapinskes hit the game-tying grand slam for UAH before the team went ahead and finished off the win.
Junior Charlie Banks highlighted the Blazer bats, finishing 2-for-5 with a home run, double, two RBI and three runs scored while also stealing a base. Junior Luke Flading went 3-for-3 at the plate with two RBI, while senior Brent Howard added a hit and reached base three times. Seniors Jackson Webster and Isaiah Pou each doubled for the red and black.
Junior Garrett Moody made the start and worked through the opening five innings, allowing three runs while striking out five opposing batters. Redshirt freshman Ty Macera put together several strong innings before the ninth inning comeback. Junior Cam Habada would take over part-way through the ninth inning in a bases loaded situation and ultimately take the loss.
Game Two - Valdosta State 6, UAH 5
The Blazers answered in dramatic fashion in game two, erasing a five-run deficit before walking off the Chargers in extra innings to earn the split heading into Sunday's series finale.
Trailing 5-0 entering the fifth inning, Valdosta State mounted its biggest offensive rally of the day. Pou started the rally with a walk before juniors Jason Mack and Parker Ladd followed with base knocks. Junior Charlie Banks delivered the turning point with a three-run home run to bring home both runners as a part of a five-run inning.
Mack would later double to put himself in scoring position in extra innings, eventually scoring the game-winning run after a pop out off of the bat of Howard. Webster doubled again in game two and drove in a run, while junior Parker Ladd added two hits.
On the mound, sophomore Jack Butler made the start before junior Keaton Fuller struck out three in a clean inning of relief work. Freshman Luke Edwards pitched two key scoreless frames late in the game to set up junior Preston Wetherell, who earned the win with a scoreless extra inning while striking out two.
Valdosta State and UAH will play the deciding match in this weekend's series tomorrow at 12 p.m. at Billy Grant Field.
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.
