VALDOSTA, Ga. – Kyle Zimmerman had three hits and scored two runs to lead Wayne State to a 5-4 victory over Valdosta State in non-conference baseball action at Billy Grant Field Saturday afternoon.
After seeing the start of the series delayed by rain on Friday, Valdosta State (6-3) jumped out to an early lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning. Jake Fields singled to right to open the inning and came around to score as Matthew Fears followed with a double to left-center. Fears eventually moved to third on a ground out and scored when a pick-off throw sailed wide of the bag to give VSU a 2-0 lead.
Wayne State (1-0) answered with five straight runs, three of which came in the fourth inning. Kenny Davis doubled to open the Warrior half of the fourth and scored as Brad Guenther followed with a single to right. Guenther moved to second on a throwing error on the play and scored as Zimmerman followed with a base hit. After a base hit moved Zimmerman to third, he scored on a double play to give WSU a 3-2 advantage.
A wild pitch plated another Warrior run in the seventh while Zimmerman also scored on an Eric Cunninghman hit in the eighth to push the WSU lead to three runs.
Valdosta State got a run back in the bottom of the eighth as Ryan McClellan scored on a fielder's choice, but after having the bases loaded with only one out, VSU was unable to push another run across in the game.
The Blazers plated the game's final run in the bottom of the ninth as a Jake Montgomery ground out scored Nick Rodda and Valdosta State got the tying run to third in the form of Will Austin, but saw the game end on a ground out.
Field had three hits to lead the Blazers while Montgomery had two hits. Pete Whittingslow fell to 1-1 on the season as he allowed seven hits and four runs in 6.2 innings.
Ethan Vasiliauskas picked up the victory as he allowed three runs, only two earned, in 8.0 innings. Daniel Peake also collected three hits for Wayne State.
The two teams conclude the three-game series with a doubleheader beginning at 10:00 a.m. Sunday morning.
After seeing the start of the series delayed by rain on Friday, Valdosta State (6-3) jumped out to an early lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning. Jake Fields singled to right to open the inning and came around to score as Matthew Fears followed with a double to left-center. Fears eventually moved to third on a ground out and scored when a pick-off throw sailed wide of the bag to give VSU a 2-0 lead.
Wayne State (1-0) answered with five straight runs, three of which came in the fourth inning. Kenny Davis doubled to open the Warrior half of the fourth and scored as Brad Guenther followed with a single to right. Guenther moved to second on a throwing error on the play and scored as Zimmerman followed with a base hit. After a base hit moved Zimmerman to third, he scored on a double play to give WSU a 3-2 advantage.
A wild pitch plated another Warrior run in the seventh while Zimmerman also scored on an Eric Cunninghman hit in the eighth to push the WSU lead to three runs.
Valdosta State got a run back in the bottom of the eighth as Ryan McClellan scored on a fielder's choice, but after having the bases loaded with only one out, VSU was unable to push another run across in the game.
The Blazers plated the game's final run in the bottom of the ninth as a Jake Montgomery ground out scored Nick Rodda and Valdosta State got the tying run to third in the form of Will Austin, but saw the game end on a ground out.
Field had three hits to lead the Blazers while Montgomery had two hits. Pete Whittingslow fell to 1-1 on the season as he allowed seven hits and four runs in 6.2 innings.
Ethan Vasiliauskas picked up the victory as he allowed three runs, only two earned, in 8.0 innings. Daniel Peake also collected three hits for Wayne State.
The two teams conclude the three-game series with a doubleheader beginning at 10:00 a.m. Sunday morning.
