Blazers Split with West Georgia

VSU falls 10-9, wins 19-9

CARROLLTON, Ga. - Valdosta State dropped the first game 10-9 before rebounding for a 19-9 victory in game two as the Blazers split a Gulf South Conference doubleheader with West Georgia at Cole Field Friday afternoon.

The Wolves (11-27, 2-6) grabbed control of the first game as it broke a 1-1 tie with six runs in the third inning. Mike Markakis drove in the first run in the inning with a bases loaded single before Brandon Mainor was hit by a pitch for the second run. Ben Lillis followed with a grand slam over the fence in centerfield to give UWG a 7-1 advantage.

The Blazers (26-11, 6-2) got one run back in the fourth, on a Jon Koenigsfeld single, and three more in the seventh, where Brandon Decker, Jake Summers and Jordan Yost collected run scoring hits, to close to within 7-5 before taking the lead in the eighth. With Koenigsfeld and Chris Jones on base, Decker hit his 14th home run of the year to put Valdosta State in front while Cain followed with his 12th round tripper of the year, the third time this season the duo has hit back-to-back home runs.

West Georgia claimed the game victory with a pair of home runs in the bottom of the eighth. David Buchanan led off the frame with his first home run of the year while three batters later Justin Smith tallied his second of the year, scoring Blake Parrott who had been hit by a pitch.

Jordan Yost fell to 2-2 on the year as he allowed three runs on the two hits in the eighth inning. Preston Lowther picked up his first win, against two losses, as he surrendered just two hits and no runs in an inning and a third.

Valdosta State jumped out to a 15-0 lead in the second game, beginning with two unearned runs in the second inning, before adding eight more runs in the third. Decker started off the scoring in the third with his second home run of the day, a two-run shot, while Yost added a two-run single that scored Cain and Austin Smith. Koenigsfeld also added a two-run single and a Decker walk forced in a seventh run while Cain was hit by a pitch to score Koenigsfeld to put VSU up 10-0.

The Blazers added five more runs in the fourth, highlighted by a two-run double by Decker, who tallied six RBI in the game.

The Wolves responded with three runs in the bottom of the fourth and four more in the fifth, including a three-run homer by Markakis, to close to within 15-7 before closing its deficit to seven runs with a run in the sixth.

VSU answered with four runs in the top of the seventh, including two via bases loaded walks, as well as two more on singles by Summers and Smith, while West Georgia closed out the scoring with two runs in the bottom of the inning.

Jeremy Forbus improved to 6-1 as he allowed 13 hits and six runs in five innings on the mound. Toby Jordan fell to 0-1 after allowing six hit and six runs in two and a third innings.

Decker finished with five hits, including a double and a triple to go along with his two home runs, and 11 RBI in seven at-bats on the day. Jones tallied six hits and six runs scored while Koenigsfeld finished with five hits and four runs batted in.

The two teams conclude the three-game series with a single game beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday.

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