Valdosta, Ga.----The Valdosta State University Blazers took the weekend series over visiting Wingate University with a 10-5 victory in NCAA Division II baseball action Sunday afternoon. The Blazers improve to 6-2 overall, while Wingate falls to 2-5 on the season.
Luke Suchon went four-for-five with four RBI and two runs scored to lead the VSU offense.
Ryan Slaughter was three-for-four with an RBI and three runs scored, while
Elias Macias added three hits and an RBI.
Tyler Homer contributed an RBI and a run scored, while
Kyle Jones and
Dalton Murray added an RBI apiece.
Junior outfielder
Ty Andrus (Winston-Salem, N.C.) was three-for-four with an RBI and a run scored to lead the Wingate offense. Sophomore infielder
Zach Little (Troutman, N.C.) added two hits, an RBI and a run scored, while junior
Aaron Nanney (Gastonia, N.C.), sophomore
Reece Daniel (Asheboro, N.C.) and freshman
Joseph Mason (Morehead City, N.C.) each contributed a hit and a run scored for the Bulldogs.
Valdosta State jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first, getting RBI singles from Homer, Suchon and Murray. Wingate got within two in the second when Nanney reached on a one-out single, then scored on an RBI single from Andrus. Daniel also recorded a single, then scored on an error to make it 3-2.
Macias gave the Blazers a 4-2 lead in the third inning with an RBI double. Suchon's RBI groundout in the fifth plated Slaughter to make it 5-2, while Slaughter's RBI single in the sixth put VSU on top by four.
Wingate plated three runs in the eighth to get within one. Mason and Andrus started the frame with singles, while Little's RBI single made it 6-3. An error on the play allowed Mason to score, while Little would come around to score on a wild pitch to make it 6-5.
The Blazers scored four runs in the bottom of the frame to take a five-run lead. Suchon provided a two-run single in the inning, while an RBI triple from Jones made the final margin 10-5.
Troy Massaro got the win, moving to 1-0. He allowed two runs on six hits in seven innings of work, striking out seven. Junior right-hander Hunter Morgan (Summerfield, N.C.) took the loss, falling to 0-2. He allowed four earned runs on 11 hits in 5 2/3 innings, striking out five without walking a batter.
Wingate is back in action Wednesday, traveling to Winston-Salem State for a 4 p.m. start.