FINAL GAME 1: VSU 11 (10-3, 5-2), Delta State 6 (2-6, 1-3)
 
DELTA STATE STARTERS GAME 1: Giambrone (2B), Cummins (CF), Pickard (DH), Gil (3B), Welch (1B), Thibodeaux (LF),Barrett (C), Swiney (RF), Santiago (SS); Milligan (LHP)
VALDOSTA STATE STARTERS GAME 1: Reed (SS), Gouge (3B), Hayman (C), Jones (2B), Cruz (RF), Graham (1B), Goodno (LF), Rice (DH), Harmon (CF); Cody (RHP)

THE BASICS GAME 1:  Valdosta State raced out to a 4-0 lead with four runs in the second inning, the Blazers added six more runs in the fifth extending the lead out to 11-2. Delta State added four runs in the final two innings, but it would not be enough as the Green and White lost game one of the series 11-6.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED GAME 1:

• Valdosta State took an early lead with four runs crossing the plate in the second frame. The inning saw three different Blazers drive in a run, including a two-out two-RBI single off of second baseman Hayden Jones' bat.
• A junior Brandon Cummins leadoff walk, followed by a junior Ethan Gill single into center field put the Statesmen in business to start the fourth. A wild pitch allowed Cummins to score and cut the Blazers lead to 4-1.
• The hosts extended their lead back to four, 5-1, when third baseman Michael Gouge drove an RBI-double into right field brining home shortstop Mike Reed.
• After a Statesmen groundout started the fifth inning, the Green and White pieced together three consecutive base hits. Junior Erick Santiago started the rally, with a single to left field. Classmate Trent Giambrone followed with a single up the middle to put runners on at first and third.
• Cummins then cashed in on the RBI opportunity, bringing home Santiago on a single into left.
• The Statesmen went on to load the bases in the fifth, but were unable to bring any more runs across, exiting the half inning down 5-2.
• Valdosta State tacked six more runs in the bottom half of the frame to increase the host's lead to 11-2. The six run frame was highlighted by a Bryant Hayman grand slam. 
• Junior Matt Barrett's two-run homerun in the top of the eighth pulled the Statesmen within seven, 11-4.
• Delta State picked up two more runs in the ninth inning, when junior first baseman Colton Welch hit a two-run homerun to left field. The rally ended there, as the Statesmen dropped game one, 11-6. 

FINAL GAME 2:  VSU 4 (11-3, 6-2), Delta State 3 (2-7, 1-4)
 
DELTA STATE STARTERS GAME 2: Cummins (CF), Giambrone (2B), Pickard (C), Gil (3B), Welch (1B), McMillian (DH), Thibodeaux (RF), Twitty (LF), Skelton (SS); Moody (RHP)
VALDOSTA STATE STARTERS GAME 2: Reed (SS), Gouge (3B), Hayman (LF), Jones (2B), Cruz (RF), Graham (1B), Goodno (C), Rice (DH), Harmon (CF); Andre (RHP)

THE BASICS GAME 2:  A Michael Gouge walk-off solo homerun in the ninth proved to be the difference in game two as Valdosta State edged Delta State, 4-3. With the win the Blazers swept the Statesmen in the rain-shortened two-game series.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED GAME 2:

• The Statesmen struck first in game two, in the fourth inning as Ethan Gill's RBI-single through the right side brought home Cummins, giving Delta State a 1-0 lead.
• Valdosta State leveled the score in the bottom half off the sixth, on a Hayman RBI-single.
• Delta State wasted little time to regain the advantage, as senior Mark McMillian led off the seventh with a solo homerun to left field.
• Classmate Landon Thibodeaux followed with a double to put a runner in scoring position. Junior Hunter Twitty then dropped down a well-executed bunt single to move Thibodeaux to third.
• Freshman Dalton Skelton walked to load the bases for the top of the order, and Cummins used a sacrifice fly to left extending the Statesmen lead out to 3-1.
• The bottom of the seventh saw Valdosta State load the bases with a pair of Blazers singles and capped by a Mike Reed walk. Michael Gouge took advantage of the two-out situation, driving a two-RBI single into center field to send the game to extra innings, tied 3-3.
• Gill led off the eighth inning with a double down the leftfield line, but the Statesmen went down in order to end the threat.
• The Blazers recorded back-to-back hits from Hayden Jones and Kevin Cruz to open the eighth inning. Valdosta State left the two base runners stranded, sending the contest to the ninth.
• A pair of Statesmen walks combined with a hit by pitch loaded the bases in the top of the ninth for the Green and White. A groundout ended the threat, keeping the game knotted at 3-3.
• Valdosta State won it, 4-3, in the bottom ninth on a Michael Gouge two-out solo homerun to left field. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• The four runs scored by the Blazers in game one marked the first time the Statesmen haven't scored first in Gulf South Conference play.
• Junior Erick Santiago recorded his first hit as a Statesman in the fifth inning of game one with a single into left.
• Cummins' RBI-single in the fifth frame of game one marked the first RBI of his career.
• For the first time this year, the Statesmen hit two home runs in a single game, with both Welch and Barrett going deep game one.
• In game two, senior Jonathon Moody logged 6.2 innings in his longest start of the season thus far. The senior allowed three earned runs on five hits and struck out five in the no-decision.
• McMillian's homerun in game two marked the second consecutive game the senior has hit one out of the park.

WHAT'S NEXT

• The Statesmen continue life on the road with a midweek trip down to Mississippi Valley State University on Wednesday. First pitch in that contest is slated for 2 p.m. in Itta Bena, Mississippi.