VALDOSTA, Ga. – The University of West Georgia baseball team dropped a pair of decisions to rival Valdosta State in a rare Monday doubleheader to close out the three-game Gulf South Conference series.

After suffering an 11-3 setback in the opener, the Wolves had the tying run at third base in the eighth inning of Game 2, but couldn't deliver the key hit en route to a tough, 4-3 finish in the nightcap at Grant Field.

In all, West Georgia (14-19, 13-17 GSC) stranded 19 base-runners on Monday – 13 in the first game and six in the second – which proved a tough pill to swallow when all was said and done.

Game 2
In Monday's nightcap, the Wolves built a 3-0 lead and received a strong start from junior right-hander Robert Coleman, who held the Blazers (20-12, 18-11) hitless through the first three frames.

West Georgia got on the board in the top of the third when junior left fielder Ethan Brant connected on a leadoff single and scored on an RBI triple by senior right fielder Dan Oberst, who extended his hitting streak to 23 straight games on Monday. In the next at-bat, sophomore shortstop Brody Wortham brought Oberst home on an RBI single.

The Wolves tacked on a run in the fourth after senior catcher Lane Griffith walked, junior second baseman Cody Mish singled and Griffith came around to score on a passed ball.

After the bats were silenced through the first stretch of the nightcap, Valdosta State answered with its big inning in the home half of the fourth, scoring four runs on four hits, getting an RBI single by first baseman E.J. Doskow, designated hitter David Mayberry scoring on a wild pitch, an RBI single from third baseman Ryan Delnegro tied the game and an RBI sac fly by shortstop Collin Teegarden drove in what proved to be the game-winning run.

Neither team scored a run over the final five innings, as the Wolves threatened in the eighth, getting Oberst to third with two outs following his fourth hit of the game, but the Blazers recorded a strikeout to keep it a one-run game and closed the series with a 1-2-3 ninth.

Oberst (4-for-4, 3 SB, 3B, run, RBI) and Mish (2-for-3, BB) had multiple-hit performances for the Wolves in Game 2.

Coleman suffered the tough-luck loss, tossing eight innings and allowing four runs – all in the fourth – on five hits with three walks and seven strikeouts.

Game 1
The Wolves suffered the eight-run setback in Monday's opener, as the UWG offense stranded 13 base-runners, while the Blazers used the long ball to power their attack.

Valdosta State connected on four home runs, including three in the five-run sixth inning that busted the game open, and finished with 17 hits overall for the game.

West Georgia struck initially by manufacturing a run in the top of the first inning, needing just one hit to do so.

Oberst reached after getting hit by a pitch and Wortham followed with a one-out single.

A double steal put Oberst and Wortham in scoring position, allowing Oberst to cross the plate on an RBI groundout by junior third baseman Collin Moore.

The host squad tied the game on an RBI single by Jowenrick Daantji. The Blazer right fielder advanced to third on a two-base throwing error on a pick-off attempt and scored an unearned run behind an RBI groundout by Mayberry for the 2-1 lead through one.

UWG junior designated hitter Joseph Hill went yard in the second inning on a solo shot to knot the game up at 2-all, but the Blazers took the lead for good on a two-run double by center fielder Nick Lewis in the home half of the second.

VSU stretched the lead to 6-2 on a solo home run by Doskow in the third and a two-out RBI base knock from Daantji in the fourth.

West Georgia got a run back in the fifth, but had the opportunity to do more damage.

Oberst and Wortham came through with back-to-back singles and Griffith roped a two-out, RBI single, but the Wolves would leave the bases loaded as VSU hurler Tristan Cone got out of the jam with a strikeout to end the inning.

That set the stage for the big sixth inning for the Blazers, who used home runs from Lewis, Mayberry and Teegarden to quickly turn the game into an 11-3 contest.

The Wolves loaded the bases again in the eighth, this time with no outs, but Valdosta State was able to get out of the jam unscathed.

UWG freshman Andrew Smith suffered the loss, giving up seven runs – five earned – on 12 hits and two walks with one strikeout through 5.1 innings. Sophomore Troy Shepherd pitched the final 2.2 frames, allowing just one earned run on five hits.

Offensively, UWG was led by Wortham (3-for-5, SB), while eight other Wolves had one hit apiece.

Up Next
The Wolves were scheduled to step away from league play for a midweek contest against Columbus State on Wednesday at Cole Field, but that game has been canceled. The Wolves will now next step between the lines on Friday and Saturday against West Florida. UWG will host the Argos in a single game on Friday at 6 p.m. and wrap up the series on Saturday in a 2 p.m. twin bill.

UWG closes the regular season with six consecutive home games leading up to the GSC Tournament on May 7-11.