VALDOSTA, Ga. – Seven Valdosta State pitchers combined to allow only one hit while the VSU offense pounded out 15 hits as the Blazers defeated Albany State 13-0 in non-conference baseball action at Billy Grant Field Wednesday evening.
Valdosta State (14-11) took advantage of an Albany State error in the fourth inning to open the scoring. With two outs, Cooper Lemonds reached on a fielding error and was lifted for pinch runner Jake Montgomery. Michael Gouge walked to put two on before Nick Rodda drove home Montgomery with a single. Ryan McClellan also singled home Gouge for a 2-0 Blazer advantage.
The Blazers added three runs in the fifth inning as they capitalized on the second ASU error of the game as well as wildness by the Golden Ram pitching staff. Hunter Thompson collected on an infield single to open the frame before Matthew Fears and Bryant Hayman were hit by a pitch. Jake Fields drew a walk to force home Thompson while Fears scored when a throw home on a fielder's choice was dropped by the catcher. Michael Gouge followed with a single to play Hayman for a 5-0 VSU lead.
The Blazers added another run in the sixth as Daniel Hoover led off with a triple and scored on a Fears fielder's choice, before adding four more runs in the seventh. Rodda drove home two of the seventh inning runs with a double while McClellan and Thompson also drove home runs in the inning.
VSU closed out the scoring with three runs in the eight inning, including a two-run triple by McClellan.
Josh Mann started for VSU and did not give up a hit in his one inning while Ben Watson surrendered one hit and struck out three in two innings. Jarod Carlton upped his record to 1-0 as he walked one and struck out one in 2.0 innings while Dominic DeMasi did not allow a base runner in an inning. After Zach John walked two without recording an out, Benjamin Weil recorded the next six outs while walking only one batter. Zakk White pitched the final inning and allowed just a walk.
Thompson and McClellan each had three hits each to lead Valdosta State offensively while Fields and Rodda had two apiece.
Valdosta State returns to action Friday when it hosts West Georgia at Billy Grant Field. The three-game weekend series will feature a doubleheader beginning at 3:00 p.m. on Friday followed by a single game at 1:00 p.m. Saturday.
