Valdosta, Ga. — Delta State University’s baseball team fell to Valdosta State 11-4 in the series finale Saturday at Billy Grant Field. The Statesmen (13-10, 9-6 Gulf South Conference) managed 10 hits but could not overcome a six-run seventh inning by the Blazers.
Valdosta State took an early lead in the third inning and broke the game open in the fourth. Charlie Banks hit a three-run homer during a four-run frame that put the Blazers ahead 5-0. Brent Howard added a solo shot later in the inning to extend the lead.
The Statesmen scored twice in the seventh inning. Cooper Walls reached base, Henley Parker advanced, and Tucker Jones doubled to right-center, bringing in two runs to cut the deficit to 5-2. Valdosta State responded with six runs in the bottom half, highlighted by a three-run homer from Matt Keller that extended the lead to 11-2.
In the ninth, Delta State mounted a rally. Landon Holliman doubled, and Peyton Badon and Cole Thompson followed with singles, including an RBI from Thompson. Brady Hendrix drove in another run with a single, but it was not enough to close the gap.
Jones led the offense with a double and two RBIs. Walls, Parker, Cade Greer, Levi Lang and Austin Batts also recorded hits. Holliman, Thompson and Hendrix contributed RBIs during the final rally.
Blake King took the loss, allowing four runs over 3.2 innings. The team used five relievers, with Cade Mattison pitching a scoreless eighth inning. Delta State will play Arkansas Tech on the road Tuesday at 4 p.m. Central Time.
