VALDOSTA, Ga.-Host Valdosta State used a big inning in each game as they swept the Christian Brothers University Bucs in the first Gulf South Conference doubleheader of the season Saturday.
GAME 1:WHAT HAPPENED:Valdosta State (9-3, 2-0 GSC) exploded for 12 runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to claim a 16-6 win.
HOW IT HAPPENED:• The Blazers opened the scoring in the second inning with four runs on three walks, a single and a bases-clearing double by David Wortham.
• The Bucs (4-6, 0-2) broke through in the top of the third inning.
Michael Halley (Memphis, Tenn./Christian Brothers HS) singled, moved to second on a passed ball and scored on a
Mickey Smith (Arlington, Tenn./Arlington HS) single down the left-field line.
• CBU tied the game with a three-run fourth inning.
Riley Kilgore (Cordova, Tenn./Christian Brothers HS) and
Lucas Castleberry (Bryant, Ark./Bryant HS) singled. After a
Nick Traylor (Germantown, Tenn./Christian Brothers HS) sacrifice bunt, Halley hit a two-run single to center. Smith followed with a single to move Halley to second, and
Scott Pala (Hernando, Miss./Hernando HS) drove Halley in with a single to right.
• The game remained tied at four until the top of the seventh, when the Bucs plated two more. Pala walked and moved to second on a
Joe Mattson (Nashville, Tenn./Franklin Road Academy) single. A passed ball moved them up to second and third, allowing Pala to score on a sacrifice fly.
Casey Goodwin (Memphis, Tenn./Christian Brothers HS) followed with a two-out triple to right-center to give the Bucs a 6-4 edge.
• The Blazers answered with 12 runs in the bottom of the inning on four walks, two hit batters, four singles, two doubles and a triple.
KEY STATS:• Halley went 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBI.
• Smith was 2-for-3 with one RBI.
• Goodwin went 2-for-4 with a double, a triple, one run and one RBI.
• Castleberry went 2-for-4 with a run.
• Mattson was 2-for-4.
•
Cale Alexander (Bartlett, Tenn./Tipton-Rosemark Academy) tossed an inning and two-thirds of scoreless relief, allowing one baserunner, on a walk.
GAME 2:WHAT HAPPENED:The Blazers used a six-run third inning to take the lead and claim a 9-2 win in Saturday's nightcap.
HOW IT HAPPENED:• The Bucs struck first with two runs in the top of the second inning.
Caleb Goodwin (Shreveport, La./Evangel Christian Academy) led off with a single to left and moved to second on a Mattson sacrifice.
Hunter Howard (Chelsea, Ala./Chelsea HS) followed with an RBI double down the right-field line, and Casey Goodwin brought him in with a single through the right side.
• The Blazers answered with six runs in the bottom of the inning to take the lead, taking advantage of an error, two singles, a double, two triples and a two-run Marcus Sigmon homer.
• VSU tacked on two more in the fifth on an error and two singles.
• The Blazers set the final margin with a run in the bottom of the sixth on a walk and two singles.
KEY STATS:• Casey Goodwin was 2-for-3 with one RBI.
• Howard went 1-for-3 with a run and one RBI.
• Caleb Goodwin was 1-for-3 with a run.
WHAT'S NEXT:The Bucs meet VSU again Sunday at noon. Their next home game is set for Wednesday afternoon at 1 p.m. as they host Calumet-St. Joseph.
