Box Score / Event Stats

Columbus State Defeats Blazers 11-2

VSU pounds out 10 hits in loss

VALDOSTA, Ga. - Columbus State scored three unearned runs if the top of the fifth inning to blow open a 4-2 game in defeating Valdosta State 11-2 at Billy Grant Field Wednesday afternoon.

The Cougars (3-1) opened the scoring in the top of the first inning as Billy Howard reached on a Brandon Atkins throwing error and came around to score on Drew Candlin's home run.

The Blazers (2-2) cut their deficit in half in the bottom of the third. Sydney Spell singled to open the inning and advanced to second on an Atkins groundout. After another ground out, Justin Huff doubled to right-center, plating Spell for VSU's first run of the game.

Columbus State immediately responded as it plated another two runs in the top of the fourth. With one out in the inning, Brian Gordon was hit by a pitch and moved to second when Kurt McKee singled. Blazer starting pitcher Chris Davison (1-1) induced a pop up for the second out of the inning, but David Brown singled to right to score Gordon. Brad Bowen followed with a walk to load the bases, allowing McKee to score on an infield single by Jonnie Geiger to give the Cougars a 4-1 lead.

Valdosta State added its second run in the bottom of the frame. Chris Harris singled with one out and moved to second when Justin Hill walked. Daniel Muniz followed with a run-scoring single to left, but a Spell double play ground ball held the score at 4-2.

The Cougars again benefited from a Blazer error in the top of the fifth to push their lead to 7-2. After a ground out opened the inning, Rodney Rutherford singled up the middle and advanced to second on a passed ball. Gordon struck out swinging for the second out, but McKee reached second on a throwing error by Huff that allowed Rutherford to score. A balk moved McKee to third, allowing him to score on Brandon Masters' single through the right-side of the infield. Masters promptly stole second and came around to score on a Brown single to center. Wade West relieved Davison and struck out Bowen to end the inning.

Columbus State added a single run off of West in the sixth and three runs off of Landon Gray in the eighth to close out the scoring.

Atkinson and Muniz led Valdosta State with two hits each while Dustin Rucker, Huff, Richard Flores, Harris, Spell and Eddie San Roman tallied one each. Davison surrendered eight hits and two walks while striking out three in four and two-thirds innings of work. Only three of the seven runs scored against him were earned.

Geiger, Rutherford, Masters and Brown all pounded out two hits apiece for Columbus State, which finished with 13 hits in the game. Anthony Arrington improved to 1-0 on the season as he allowed six hits and two earned runs in five innings of work.

Valdosta State returns to action on Friday, February 9 when it takes part in the Nova Southeastern Tournament in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. The Blazers play Newberry College in the first day of action with first pitch scheduled for 3:00 p.m.

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