Box Score / Event Stats

Blazers Sweep Doubleheader from Lynn

VSU wins 3-1, 2-1 in season opener

VALDOSTA, Ga. - Valdosta State used a pair of strong pitching performances to sweep an opening day doubleheader from Lynn University Friday afternoon at Billy Grant Field, winning the first game 3-1 before claiming a 2-1 win in game two.

In the first game of the day, the Blazers (2-0) opened the scoring in the bottom of the second inning. Sydney Spell reached on an infield single to open the inning but was erased when Eddie San Roman followed with a double play ground ball. Rusty Harris proceeded to single up the middle and came around to score on a Nick Copeland double to left centerfield for a 1-0 Blazer lead.

Lynn (0-2) evened the game at 1-1 in the top of the third as Steve Somers led off with a home run off the scoreboard in left center, Valdosta State immediately answered in the bottom of the frame. Justin Huff walked to open the Blazer half of the inning and moved to third when Richard Flores singled to right. A Daniel Muniz fielder's choice erased Flores while a Chris Harris foul out recorded the second out of the frame. Knight starter Joe Cox (0-1) worked the count even at 2-2 to Spell, but threw a wild pitch on his next pitch allowing Huff to score.

VSU closed out the scoring in the bottom of the sixth as Chris Harris singled to open the inning and moved to second on a Cox's second wild pitch of the game. Spell followed with a fielder's choice, but Harris beat the throw to third base putting men at the corners. Rusty Harris collected the RBI as his sacrifice fly to center field plated Chris Harris.

Chris Davison gave up three hits and just one run while walking two and striking out seven in five innings of work to pick up the win for the Blazers. Wade West struck out four and did not give up a hit over the course of the final two innings to earn the save. Five different Blazers garnered a hit in the game.

Cox gave up five hits and three runs in five and two-thirds innings of work for the Knights. The righthander also walked three and struck out three. Three Knight batters collected a hit in the game.

The Knights struck first in the second game of the day as they plated a run in the top of the fourth inning. With one out in the frame, Jason Ten Eyck hammered a pitch from Blazer starter Thomas Tripp over the left centerfield wall for his first home run of the season.

The Blazers quickly answered in the bottom of the frame as Chris Harris manufactured a VSU run. Harris singled to open the inning and stole second. A passed ball by LU catcher Kyle Holloway moved Harris to third, allowing him to score on a Dustin Rucker sacrifice fly to centerfield.

Lynn threatened in the top of the fifth as they loaded the bases against Tripp. However, Landon Gray (1-0) entered the game and induced a fly out to left and struck out Gabe MacDougall looking to end the threat.

Justin Hill gave Valdosta State the winning run in the bottom of the fifth as he hit a leadoff home run off of Knight starter Lonnie Patterson.

Harris, Spell and Hill all collected hits for Valdosta State in the second game. Tripp worked four and a third innings, giving up six hits, walking four and striking out four in the no decision. Gray, who was lifted after walking the leadoff man in the sixth, earned the win while Jeremy Jones picked up his first save after allowing just one hit in two innings of work.

Patterson surrendered four hits and two runs, only one of which was earned, in four innings of work as he fell to 0-1 on the season. The Knights tallied seven hits in the game, but stranded 12 men on base.

The two teams conclude the three-game series Saturday afternoon at Billy Grant Field. First pitch is slated for 3:00 p.m.

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