Box Score / Event Stats

Blazers Fall 8-5 to GCSU

VSU falls to 9-7

VALDOSTA, Ga. - Georgia College scored the final four runs of the game to defeat Valdosta State 8-5 in non-conference baseball action at Billy Grant Field Wedneday afternoon.

Georgia College (10-4) opened the scoring in the top of the first inning as it took advantage of a pair of walks to score three runs. Sean Harrell walked with one out in the inning before Buddy Elmore also drew a free pass with two outs. Pete Paris followed with a double to right-center to plate both base runners and scored when Steve Muoio reached on a single up the middle, giving the Bobcats a 3-0 lead.

Valdosta State (9-7) got two runs back in the bottom of the second as Chase Blackwood walked and scored on an Austin Smith double to right-center. Smith moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a Brandon Atkins single to left, cutting the VSU deficit to 3-2.

The Blazers evened the game at 3-3 in the third as it took advantage of some heads-up base running by Sho Kohata. Kohata walked to lead off the inning before Matt Costello followed with a bunt single. GCSU pitcher Luke Rogers and Paris, tripped over each other on the play and Kohata noticed no one was covering third base so he broke for the bag and slid in just under the tag by Muoio. Blaine Wilson proceeded to ground into a double play, but Kohata scored on the play to even the game at 3-3.

The Bobcats regained the lead on a Harrell sacrifice fly in the fourth before Valdosta State scored two runs in the fifth to grab the lead. Atkins and Robbie Kuzdale reached on back-to-back singles to open the frame before Kohata walked to load the bases. Clayton Cain followed with a single through the left side of the infield to plate Atkins while Kuzdale scored on Wilson's second double play ball of the game to give VSU a 5-4 lead.

GCSU quickly regained the lead as it scored three runs in the sixth inning. Danny McCorkle was hit by a pitch to open the frame and scored on a Derek Johns single two batters later. Harrell, who had singled before Johns, also scored in the frame on an Elmore sacrifice fly while a single by Paris plated Johns for a 7-5 Bobcat lead.

An unearned run by Chandler Snell unearned run in the seventh closed out the scoring.

Ryan Parson earned the win as he gave up two hits while striking out four batters in relief to improve to 3-0 on the season. Austin Smith allowed three runs in an inning to fall to 0-3.

Atkins, Costello and Cain all collected two hits on the day for the Blazers while Paris was a perfect 4-of-4 at the plate for the Bobcats.

Valdosta State returns to action Saturday, February 28 when it opens a three-game series against Tampa with a doubleheader in Billy Grant Field at 1:00 p.m.

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