VALDOSTA, Ga. — Despite a late push at the plate, the Delta State University baseball team dropped the series finale to Valdosta State, 11-4, Saturday afternoon at Billy Grant Field.

The Statesmen (13-10, 9-6 GSC) recorded 10 hits in the contest and scored twice in the seventh and twice in the ninth, but a six-run seventh inning by the Blazers created too large of a gap to overcome.

Valdosta State took the early lead in the third inning before breaking the game open in the fourth. A three-run home run from Charlie Banks highlighted a four-run frame that pushed the Blazers in front 5-0. Brent Howard added a solo home run later in the inning to extend the advantage.

Delta State broke through in the seventh inning. After Cooper Walls reached and Henley Parker moved into scoring position, Tucker Jones delivered a two-run double to right-center field to cut the deficit to 5-2.
Valdosta State responded in the bottom half of the inning with six runs, highlighted by a three-run homer from Matt Keller, pushing the lead to 11-2.

The Statesmen continued to battle in the ninth. Landon Holliman started the rally with a double before Peyton Badon and Cole Thompson followed with back-to-back hits, including an RBI single from Thompson. Brady Hendrix added another RBI single later in the frame to account for the final margin.

Jones finished with a double and two RBIs to lead the Statesmen offense, while Walls, Parker, Cade Greer, Levi Lang and Austin Batts each recorded hits. Holliman, Thompson and Hendrix also drove in runs during the ninth-inning rally.

Blake King (1-1) was charged with the loss after allowing four runs over 3.2 innings. The Statesmen used five relievers the rest of the way, with Cade Mattison working a scoreless eighth inning.

Delta State will be back in action Tuesday afternoon as they hit the road to take on the Wonder Boys from Arkansas Tech University at 4:00 p.m (CT).