PENSACOLA, Fla. - The Valdosta State baseball team (18-30, 12-19 GSC) rallied late but could not overcome an early 7-0 deficit in a 12-10 loss to West Florida (33-13, 19-12 GSC) on Friday night.

The Argonauts jumped in front behind two runs in the first before breaking the game open with a five-run second inning. West Florida added five more runs as they held off a late push from the Blazers.

Valdosta State began chipping away with runs in the third and fourth before making things interesting in the eighth, scoring five runs to cut the deficit to two, but the team was unable to finish the comeback in the ninth.

Junior Luke Flading led the offensive effort, finishing 4-for-5 with a home run, a double, and four RBI. Junior Matt Keller added a pair of hits and two RBI, while junior Ryan Strachan recorded two hits, drove in a run, and scored.

Senior Marcos Sevillano also turned in a multi-hit performance with two runs scored and an RBI. Junior Jason Mack reached base three times and scored twice, while sophomore Parker Ladd added an RBI as part of the 13-hit effort for the Blazers.

On the mound, senior Drake LaRoche (5-5) took the loss after allowing seven runs. Junior Hayden Sottile provided 2.1 innings of relief work, while senior Preston James pitched three innings down the stretch.

West Florida was led offensively by Zack Stokes, who collected three hits and scored twice. William Lybrook added a pair of doubles and drove in two runs. Greg Pettay also had a big night, going 3-for-4 with four RBI.

Colton Dorsey earned the win for the Argonauts, while Micky Scheetz recorded his 11th save of the season.

Valdosta State and West Florida finish the series and regular-season play on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. ET in Pensacola.

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