VALDOSTA, GA. - A bases-loaded single in the bottom of the 10th
inning would prove to be the game winner Wednesday night as
Valdosta State slipped by Georgia Southwestern 9-8 in
non-conference baseball action at Billy Grant Field in
Valdosta.
Georgia Southwestern (4-11) opened the scoring in the top of the
second inning as it plated five runs. Francisco Gomez walked to
lead off the inning, and two batters later Daniel Stokes followed
with a double to move Gomez to third. Cody Adams' fielder's choice
plated Gomez. Jordan Mullis then tripled to score Stokes and Blazer
starter Jeremy Forbus hit the next two batters to load the bases
before being relieved. Daniel Lynn greeted reliever Will Thompson
with a two-run single and Patrick McCarthy singled to score the
final run of the inning, giving the Hurricanes a 5-0 advantage.
Valdosta State (8-5-1) responded with a run in the bottom of the
frame to cut its deficit to 5-1. Chase Blackwood doubled to open
the inning and moved to third on a wild pitch before coming home on
a Jon Koenigsfeld ground out.
The Blazers added three more runs to their total in the bottom of
the third with a single and a pair of home runs. Logan Pierce led
off by battling through a 12-pitch at-bat before blooping a single
to left. Blaine Wilson hit a 2-2 pitch over the fence in
left-center field for his second home run of the season. Two
batters later, Blackwood hit his first homer of the year to left,
cutting the VSU deficit to 5-4. VSU would go on to tie the game in
the bottom of the sixth. Koenigsfeld singled and moved to second on
a foul out to left field. A stolen base moved Koenigsfeld to third,
allowing him to score on a Curtis Keegan single to right and tie
the game at 5-5.
The Hurricanes surged back into the lead in the eighth when Cody
Adams reached on a fielder's choice. Pinch runner Jared Allen
proceeded to steal second and scored when Zack Stanton homered to
left for a 7-5 GSW lead. VSU came right back in the bottom of the
eighth and capitalized on a balk and an error to score 3 runs and
pull ahead 8-5.
Georgia Southwestern evened the game with an unearned run in the
top of the ninth. With one out, McCarthy doubled and moved to third
when Wes Hyman bobbled the ball in right field. Gomez proceeded to
ground out to push McCarthy across the plate and even the score at
8-8. A scoreless ninth inning for the Blazers would stretch the
game into an extra inning.
GSW was unable to produce a run in the 10th as pitcher Steve Turner
tallied 2 strikeouts and a pop fly. Sho Kohata led off the bottom
of the 10th inning with a walk before Hurricane reliever Jody
Sellars (0-1) entered the game. Kohata stole second and moved to
third on a throwing error. GSW put the next two batters on base to
bring Keill to the plate. The Blazer first baseman put the first
pitch down the left field line, driving in Kohata for the winning
run.
Pat McCarthy and Daniel Stokes recorded two hits apiece for the
Hurricanes, while Zack Stanton contributed 1 hit, 2 RBI, and scored
2 runs in the effort. Brandon Reeder took the loss for the
Canes.
GSW will take to field again Tuesday, March 3 with a home stand
against Auburn University - Montgomery. First pitch will be at 5:00
PM at Hurricane Field in the Susan K. Smith Athletic Complex.
