Juwan Burney
Hays Collins
4
Winner Valdosta State VSU 30-17, 17-13 GSC
3
Delta State DSU 35-10, 23-7 GSC
Winner
Valdosta State VSU
30-17, 17-13 GSC
4
Final
3
Delta State DSU
35-10, 23-7 GSC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 R H E
Valdosta State VSU 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 4 9 2
Delta State DSU 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 10 0

W: Beau Blair (5-1) L: Shannon, Zack (0-1)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Matt Jones

Blazers edge Statesmen 4-3 in 11 innings

CLEVELAND, Miss. – Ryan Slaughter's RBI single in the top of the 11th inning propelled the Blazers (30-17, 17-13 GSC) of Valdosta State University to a 4-3 come-from-behind victory over the No. 3-ranked Statesmen (35-10, 23-7 GSC) of Delta State University. The Statesmen remain two games up on the University of North Alabama in the Gulf South Conference race with one weekend left in league play.

Final Score: No. 3 Delta State 3 | Valdosta State 4 (11)
Date/Time: Mon., April 24, 2017 | 10:30 a.m.
Location: Cleveland, Miss, | Harvey Stadium-Ferriss Field
Records: Statesmen 35-10, 23-7 GSC | Blazers 30-17, 17-13 GSC
Series: Valdosta State leads 22-21
 

HOW IT HAPPENED
  • After a walk to Emil Ellis, Brian Lane laced his 14th double of the season to right-center to put Delta State up 1-0 in the bottom of the first on the Blazers. Juwan Burney made it 2-0 DSU with an RBI single to left, scoring Lane from second.
  • Clint Carr's groundout to second brought home Tyler Homer, who walked to open the inning, from third to score Valdosta State's first run of the game in the top of the second.
  • Nick Morgan's sac-fly to center score Clay Casey to extend Delta State's lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the sixth. Casey opened the inning with a hit-by-pitch, his 15th of the season and the 95th for the Statesmen.
  • In the top of the ninth, a two-out double by Dalton Murray jumpstarted the rally. Tyler Homer followed with a two-run blast over the right field wall to tie the game at 3-3 and chase Birdsong from the game.
  • After a scoreless 10th, the Blazers took a 4-3 lead in the top of the 11th on Ryan Slaughter's RBI single through the right side. David Wortham, who reached on a hit-by-pitch, scored on the play.
  • DSU threatened in the bottom of the 11th, but VSU reliever Beau Blair retired the side to preserve the 4-3 come-from-behind victory.      

ON THE MOUND
  • Junior right-handed pitcher Seth Birdsong (7-1) started game one for the Statesmen, working 8.2 innings while allowing three runs on seven hits with one walk and six strikeouts.
  • Senior Zach Osbon came on in relief of Birdsong in the ninth and retired the final out of the frame to end the Blazers rally.
  • Zack Shannon (0-1) made his first appearance out of the bullpen since April 2 at Christian Brothers in the top of 10th. After allowing a hit by Clint Carr and a hit-by-pitch to B.J. White, Shannon set down the next three batters, including an inning-ending strikeout of Luke Suchon. Shannon took the loss after giving up one run on two hits in 2.0 innings of work.    
  • VSU's Austin Hamilton pitched 6.0 innings in the start, surrendering three earned runs on six hits with six walks and three strikeouts. Reliever Roman Donofro came on in the seventh and tossed 3.0 innings while giving up two hits.
  • Blair (5-1) earned the win in relief after allowing two hits, walking one and two strikeouts.   

NOTEABLES
  • Burney collected his 11th multiple hit game of the season while Shannon amassed his 23rd.
  • Shannon (39), Casey (29) and Ellis (18) are all riding extensive consecutive games reached base streaks.    

UP NEXT                                          
  • Delta State travels to Mississippi College for a three-game Gulf South Conference series this weekend in Clinton. Saturday's doubleheader is set to begin at 3 p.m. with Sunday's series finale slated for 1 p.m.
 
 
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