Box Score MEMPHIS–Visiting Valdosta State scored nine runs over four innings in the middle of the game and held on for a 9-7 win over the Christian Brothers University Bucs Sunday afternoon at Buc Field.

The Bucs (8-26, 1-17 GSC) struck first in the bottom of the first when Tanner Sandel (Gallatin, Tenn./Gallatin HS) reached on an error, moved to second on a wild pitch, and scored on a Charles Kelly (Bartlett, Tenn./Bartlett HS) single. They extended their lead to 3-0 an inning later when they scored twice. Back-to-back one-out singles by Tyler Burnett (Germantown, Tenn./Germantown HS) and Cale Alexander (Bartlett, Tenn./Tipton-Rosemark Academy) started the rally. After a wild pitch moved them up to second and third, a two-out Ryan Knott (Cordova, Tenn./St. Benedict HS) single gave the Bucs the 3-0 lead.

The Blazers (19-12, 8-7) used a walk, an error, and a groundout to plate their first run in the top of the third inning, and they took the lead an inning later with four runs on two singles, a double, a walk, and a hit batter. They tacked on three more in the fifth on a hit batter and three straight singles, all with two out.

After VSU scored their final run on an error in the top of the sixth, the Bucs began to chip away at the 9-3 lead. They batted around in a three-run bottom of the sixth inning. Tyler Burnett (Germantown, Tenn./Germantown HS) started the rally with a single, and after a walk, Knott singled to load the bases, and Jarrett Jenkins (Ridgeland, Miss./Ridgeland HS) worked a walk to bring the first run in. Sandel hit a double down the right field line, his second of the day, to bring in two runs and pull the Bucs within a 9-6 margin.

The Bucs scored once more in the eighth inning as Kelly singled, moved to third on an error on a Will Wilson (Cordova, Tenn./First Assembly Christian School) single, and scored on a wild pitch.

Sandel, Kelly, Burnett, and Knott collected two hits each in the game for the Bucs. Michael Lartigue (Southaven, Miss./Southaven HS) tossed two and a third scoreless innings out of the bullpen, allowing no hits and two walks against a strikeout. Bill Higdon (Olive Branch, Miss./Center Hill HS) also tossed a scoreless inning of relief.

The Bucs return to action Tuesday afternoon at 3 p.m. as they host Victory.