VALDOSTA, Ga. – Valdosta State (7-15, 5-7 GSC) returns to Gulf South Conference play this weekend as the Blazers host Delta State (13-7, 9-3 GSC) for a three-game series beginning Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. at Billy Grant Field. Game two will begin roughly forty minutes following the conclusion of game one on Friday, while game three will be played on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Valdosta State enters the contest as winners in just one of their last five contests but has put together competitive efforts against strong competition, including a 3-2 win over then-No. 8 West Alabama behind a complete game from senior Drake LaRoche. The Blazers also produced 14 runs and 18 hits earlier this week in a 13-inning contest against Embry-Riddle, and fell last Tuesday to the nation's No. 1 Tampa.
Junior Charlie Banks has led the Blazer offense this season, entering the weekend batting .351 with seven home runs and 21 RBI while posting a 1.030 OPS. Banks added to his impressive junior campaign with two more home runs on Tuesday against Embry-Riddle.
Senior Jackson Webster has been another key contributor offensively, hitting .291 with 16 hits and nine RBI while carrying a .443 on-base percentage. Sophomore Parker Ladd has been one of the hottest bats in the lineup, batting .450 with two home runs and nine RBI since entering the starting lineup. Senior Brent Howard is hitting .296 with 24 hits and 15 RBI while drawing a team-high 18 walks, while junior Luke Flading is batting .281 with 11 RBI.
On the mound, LaRoche has anchored the Blazers' rotation with a 3.89 ERA and 29 strikeouts across 37.0 innings, highlighted by his complete-game performance against West Alabama last weekend. Junior Garrett Moody has also made six starts this season and leads the team with 34 strikeouts. Junior Jack Butler has produced three solid starts in recent weeks and is likely to hold the third starter spot this weekend.
Delta State enters the weekend near the top of the GSC standings and features several productive hitters, including Levi Lang (.361), Austin Estes (.343), and Tucker Jones (.333), who has also driven in 22 runs and is a perfect 15-for-15 on stolen base attempts. On the mound, the Statesmen are a solid all-group, led by Adrian Byrd, who owns a 1.76 ERA with 38 strikeouts across 30.2 innings.
The Statesmen hold the edge in the all-time series, leading 37-27 dating back to 2003. DSU won last season's series in Cleveland, Mississippi, two games to one.
First pitch for Friday's doubleheader between the Blazers and Statesmen is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Billy Grant Field, with the series finale set for Saturday at 1 p.m.
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