VALDOSTA, Ga. - The University of West Georgia baseball team split their Saturday double header with Valdosta State, winning game one 6-2 and dropping game two 5-2 at Billy Grant Field in Valdosta.
Game One: UWG 6, VSU 2
After sitting the Wolves down in order in the top half, the Blazers got on the board first in the bottom half, taking advantage of consecutive wild pitches to score the game's first run.
UWG finally got the bats going in the second as
Anthony Calabro led off the inning with a long single off the wall.
Logan Fink grounded into a fielder's choice, but
Cooper Prince picked up the second hit of the inning putting runners on first and second with just one out.
Jared Emory delivered the first two runs for the Wolves right after, sending a double all the way to the wall, scoring Fink and Prince.
With Berry rolling on the mound, the Wolves threatened again in the top of the fourth as Fink reached on an error and Prince moved him over to third with a single. UWG came up just a bit short, however, and could not get a run in, keeping the score 2-1.
The Blazers knotted the game back up in the bottom of the fifth using a two RBI double from JP Gates with two outs in the inning, sending us to the sixth with a tie game.
The Wolves finally came back to life at the plate in the eighth, striking for four runs in the frame.
Sam Ladner got the inning started with a lead off single, followed by a walk from
Henry Daniels two batters later. Calabro then sent his third hit of the game down the left field line to score Ladner. Fink then sent a single into center to score two, and after being moved to second on a sac bunt, Emory brought him home with his second double of the day. The Blazers got the bases loaded in the bottom half, but
Jonathan Hickman stranded them all, sending us to the ninth with a 6-2 lead.
After the Wolves were sat down in order in the top of the ninth, Hickman allowed the first two batters to reach in the inning, prompting head coach
Jeff Smith to call on
Ryan Whitener out of the pen to close the game. Whitener got the next three Blazers out in a row to secure the game one victory for the Wolves.
Calabro finished game one 3-4 at the plate with a double, an RBI, and a stolen base, while Emory finished 2-4 with two doubles and three RBI's. On the mound,
Peyton Berry went five innings in his second start of the season, allowing four hits, two walks, two runs, and struck out six.
Jonathan Hickman pitched three innings of relief, allowing just two hits, no runs, and struck out four.
Game Two: VSU 5, UWG 2
The Wolves wasted no time in game two, striking for two early runs in the inning. Ladner, Hohl, and Daniels all singled to begin the game, with Daniels' bringing in the game's first run, and Calabro added a sac fly in the inning putting the Wolves up 2-0 before the Blazers had a chance to hit.
For the second game in a row, the Blazers scored their first run thanks to a wild pitch. VSU was not done in the inning as Connor Morgan ripped a two RBI double into deep center. Another walk in the inning forced starter
Chase Townsend out of the game after just ? of an inning, and Smith called on
Jake Jordan to get out of the first inning jam. Jordan got Gandy to fly out to end the inning, sending us to the second with the Blazers leading 3-2.
VSU got another run in the bottom of the second inning after an RBI single taking a 4-2 lead into the third inning.
After a blazing hot start from both offenses, game two turned into a pitchers duel between the two bullpens, with both sides being kept off the scoreboard through the fourth inning.
Valdosta State continued to add on their lead in the fifth using a double and a single in the inning to add to their lead.
Both offenses went through another dry spell at the plate, and the Wolves never could muster up enough offense to get back in the game, dropping game two by a score of 5-2.
Prince and Hohl led the Wolves offensively in game two with two hits a piece, and Daniels and Calabro had the lone RBI's.
These same two teams will play the rubber match tomorrow at 10:30 am in Valdosta.
