Box Score / Event Stats

Blazers fall 6-1 to No. 7 Columbus State

VSU falls to 28-14-1

VALDOSTA, Ga. - Jeremy Thompson scattered seven hits over nine innings to lead No. 7 Columbus State to a 6-1 victory over No. 18 Valdosta State in non-conference baseball action at Billy Grant Field Wednesday evening.

Columbus State (33-13) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning as it took advantage of the speed of leadoff batter Jonnie Geiger. Geiger singled up the middle to open the inning and stole second before moving to third on a Brandon Masters base hit. Masters proceeded to steal second. Geiger scored on the play as the throw from VSU catcher Chase Blackwood sailed into centerfield.

The Cougars upped their advantage to 2-0 in the second inning as Brian Gordon tripled to open the frame and came home on Aaron Beasley's sacrifice fly to centerfield before Valdosta State (28-14-1) answered with a run in the bottom of the inning to close back to within a run. Blaine Wilson doubled to right-center to open the Blazer half of the frame and moved to third on a Daniel Muniz ground out. Blackwood drove Wilson home with a groundout.

A leadoff triple again led to a CSU run in the third as Masters tripled to left-center to open the frame and scored two batters later on a Thomas Morrison ground out while Rodney Rutherford hit a two-run home run, his 21st round-tripper of the season, in the fifth to push the Cougar lead to 5-1.

A pinch hit single by Cole Martin, which scored C.J. Bressoud in the eighth closed out the scoring.

The Blazers only other threat against Thompson came in the fourth as they loaded the bases before a strikeout ended the frame. The junior walked two batters while striking out eight to improve to 4-1 on the season.

Will Thompson allowed four hits and two runs, only one of which was earned, in two innings to fall to 5-4 on the year. Shawn Keill and Wes Hyman led the Blazers offensively with two hits each.

Valdosta State returns to action Saturday, April 19 when it opens a three-game series with Gulf South Conference foe Montevallo at 1:00 p.m. in Billy Grant Field.

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