VALDOSTA, Ga. — The Delta State University baseball team dropped both games of a Gulf South Conference doubleheader to Valdosta State on Friday, falling 2–1 in both contests at Billy Grant Field.
Game One – Valdosta State 2, Delta State 1
Delta State struck first in the third inning when
Cooper Walls launched a solo home run to left field to give the Statesmen a 1–0 lead.
The Blazers answered in the sixth inning after Isaiah Pou doubled to left before scoring on an RBI single from Will Beckham to tie the game at 1–1.
Valdosta State secured the win in the bottom of the ninth. Parker Ladd reached on a walk and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Jackson Webster to lift the Blazers to the 2–1 victory.
Cooper Walls finished 1-for-3 with the home run and RBI for Delta State, while
Jacob Hill,
Austin Batts and
Austin Estes each recorded a hit.
On the mound,
Adrian Byrd turned in a strong start, tossing six innings and allowing just one run while striking out eight.
Ryan Herbison was charged with the loss.
Game Two – Valdosta State 2, Delta State 1
The nightcap followed a similar script as the Blazers again edged the Statesmen 2–1 in a seven-inning contest.
Valdosta State broke through in the fourth inning, scoring two runs with a bases-loaded walk by Isaiah Pou and an RBI single from Jason Mack to take a 2–0 lead.
Delta State responded in the fifth when
Cooper Walls doubled and later scored on an RBI single to center field by
Austin Estes to cut the deficit to 2–1.
The Statesmen threatened but could not push across the tying run as Valdosta State's Jack Butler struck out 10 batters in a complete-game effort to secure the win.
Walls led Delta State offensively with a double and a run scored, while Hill,
Tucker Jones and Estes also recorded hits.
Aidan McCrady took the loss after allowing two runs in 3.2 innings of work.
Alex McHale provided relief, tossing 2.1 scoreless innings.
Delta State will look to bounce back in the series finale against Valdosta State tomorrow afternoon.
