cobb
9
Valdosta State VSU 33-17
10
Winner Delta State DSU 27-25
Valdosta State VSU
33-17
9
Final
10
Delta State DSU
27-25
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 R H E
Valdosta State VSU 4 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 15 1
Delta State DSU 0 2 1 0 5 0 0 1 0 0 1 10 12 2

W: Hill, Josh (2-2) L: Jason Norris (0-1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Statesmen Advance to Title Tuesday With Comeback Walk-off Win

OXFORD, Ala. – Delta State comes back from eight-down to walk-off the previously unbeaten in tournament play Valdosta State Blazers. The Statesmen hit two home runs off the bats of Hayden Cooper and Brendan McCauley, but a walk-off balk proved to be the deciding factor.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Delta State 10 | Valdosta State 9
Location: Oxford, AL | Choccolocco Park
Records: #8 Statesmen (27-25, 14-15 GSC) | #4 Blazers (33-17, 18-12 GSC)
Get Social: @DeltaStateBSB

HOW IT HAPPENED
  • The Blazers took an early lead off a three-run and a solo home run in the top of the first. Jonathan Dewberry hit a leadoff single to right, moved to second after a balk, then third on a sac fly from Kirkland Trahan but was stranded there. 4-0 Valdosta State after 1.
  • VSU added to their lead with two one-out RBI singles and a 2 RBI double in the top of the second. Delta State loaded the bases with two away and plated two runs from Eric Newsom and Brett Cobb on a fielder's choice by Taylor Woodcock with a throwing error from the VSU second baseman. 8-2 Valdosta State after 2. A 37-minute lightning delay was also called just before the top of the third.
  • The Blazers added another run in the top of the third after an RBI double. 
  • Dewberry hit a leadoff single and moved to second on a wild pitch. A flyout moved him to third. A two-out wild pitch scored Dewberry. Delta State left two on after walks to Hayden Cooper and Newsom. 9-3 Valdosta State after 3.
  • Valdosta State stranded two runners in the top of the fourth. Woodcock singled with one out in the bottom of the fourth. VSU fell in order in the top of the fifth. Brendan McCauley singled to lead off the bottom of the fifth, leading to a two-run homer by Hayden Cooper. Newsom singled followed by walks to Cobb and Clowers to load the bases with one out. A balk moved everyone up and scored Newsom from third. Woodcock was walked to load the bases again before a Thigpen groundout would score Cobb. A passed ball scored Clowers and brought the Statesmen within a run of the Blazers. 9-8 Valdosta State after 5.
  • VSU picked up a hit and left two on as the Statesmen fell in order in the sixth inning. The Blazers left a walk stranded in the top of the seventh. Newsom hit a leadoff single and had Brett Burrell pinch run for him. Burrell moved all the way to third with two outs, but was left there after a foul out. 9-8 Valdosta State after 7.
  • Valdosta State sent just three to the plate in the eighth. Brendan McCauley tied the game up with two away in the eighth on a moon-shot homer to left. Tied 9-9 after 8.
  • The Blazers put two runners on in the top of the ninth but left both stranded. Brett Burrell hit a one-out single in the bottom of the ninth, but was caught on a pickoff to end the inning. Valdosta State put two on with one away in the top of the tenth, but a base-running mistake allowed the Statesmen to double up the Blazers on an inning-ending 7-6-4 double play. Clowers drew a walk to lead the bottom of the tenth and a bunt by Woodcock moved him to second with one out, but he was stranded there. Tied 9-9 after 10.
  • VSU had the go-ahead run at second with two outs in the eleventh inning, but a Josh Hill strikeout ended the scoring threat. Trahan fought back from down 0-2 to earn a walk with one away in the eleventh. Hayden Cooper singled to left to move Trahan to third, putting runners at the corners with one out. A walk-off balk scored Trahan from third and punched DSU's ticket to Title Tuesday. 10-9 Delta State final.
ON THE MOUND
  • Starter Hammer Franks pitched 1.1 innings, allowing six runs on six hits with three strikeouts.
  • Duke Jordan faced four batters, allowing three runs on three hits and a walk.
  • Cade Whitley pitched 4.2 innings, allowing just one run on five hits. He also struck out four and walked three.
  • Jesse Homan pitched 2.0 innings, allowing no runs or hits with a strikeout and a walk.
  • Steven Lacey pitched 2.0 innings, giving up just one hit but walked three with one strikeout.
  • Josh Hill (W, 2-2) pitched 1.0 inning with a strikeout and a walk.
UP NEXT
The Statesmen conclude GSC Tournament play tomorrow, May 9 beginning at 11:00 am against West Florida. If the Statesmen defeat the Argonauts, they would play Valdosta State again in the GSC Championship game at 2:00 pm.
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