VALDOSTA, Ga. - The Valdosta State baseball team (11-22) returns home Tuesday evening to host Florida Southern (15-13) in a midweek matchup at Billy Grant Field, with first pitch set for 5 p.m.
The Blazers and Mocs meet once again in a long-standing regional series that dates back to 1957. Florida Southern holds a 53-19 advantage all-time and has won the last seven meetings, while Valdosta State's last victory in the series came on the road in Lakeland in 2008.
Valdosta State enters the midweek contest looking to snap a seven-game losing streak, all of which came away from home, as the Blazers return to Billy Grant Field for the first time since March 18.
Offensively, junior Charlie Banks leads the Blazers, hitting .303 with a team-high 10 home runs and 33 RBI, along with a .934 OPS. Sophomore Parker Ladd has also been a steady presence rounding out the lineup, batting .342, while senior Brent Howard adds a .284 average with a .427 on-base percentage and 27 walks, usually batting in the three hole.
Senior Jackson Webster (.260) and junior Luke Flading (.280) have provided additional consistent contact with flashes of power in the lineup. Juniors Matt Keller and Jason Mack have both started 30+ games this season, combining for 49 hits and 28 RBI along with stellar defense in the middle infield.
Valdosta State has regularly called the name of graduate Trey Jackson to start its midweek contests in recent weeks. Jackson has made six starts this season, posting a 10.80 ERA across 15.0 innings, highlighted by six shutout innings during the Blazer win over Saint Leo two weeks ago.
Out of the bullpen, the Blazers have been led by senior Keaton Fuller (2.45 ERA, 18 strikeouts in 11.0 innings) along with senior Vinny Del Negro and sophomore Jacob Page, who have each logged high-volume innings in relief, amongst several other key arms.
Florida Southern's offense showcases a number of tools, with several bats offering combinations of contact, power, and speed. The Mocs are led by Ryan Jenkins, who is hitting .379 with a 1.019 OPS, and Mikey Scott, who is batting .345 with 18 stolen bases. Carson Brady adds power with six home runs and a .571 slugging percentage.
On the mound, the Mocs often rely on Ty Bradle (2.95 ERA, 43 strikeouts in 36.2 innings) and Sachem Ramos (4.19 ERA, 52 strikeouts in 43.0 innings) as primary starters. Christian Carew and Elliot Joslin have four and three starts each for Florida Southern, and seem like prime candiates to take the bump on Tuesday evening.
Join us ahead of first pitch on Tuesday, which is set for 5 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 throughout the season.
