VALDOSTA— The VSU baseball team took down under matched Tiffin 13-6 on Monday night at Billy Grant Field in their final game before hosting No. 1 Florida Southern this weekend.
“We are supposed to win these games,” VSU head coach Greg Guilliams said. “If we don’t play real well or they get a great pitching performance, it could be different, but the truth of the matter is we’re supposed to win.”
It did not take long for VSU to take the lead as the third batter of the game, Brandon Decker, went yard on only the second pitch her saw from the Dragons starting pitcher, Shane Livensparger. Decker’s two run homerun put the Blazers up 2-0.
The Blazers offensive attack was not done in the opening inning as the Blazers managed three more base runners in the inning off two hits, however could not bring anymore across the plate.
VSU added to its lead in the second inning, as Decker launched his second homerun of the game, and seventh of the season. This time Decker’s homerun came with two men on base which gave VSU an early 5-0 advantage.
“He is that type of player,” Guilliams said when asked about Decker’s performance. “He is a true game changer because of his power and that is something you don’t teach, that is something you recruit. That is why he is here.”
VSU added two more runs in the third inning as Jordan Yost crossed the plate on a Jordan Hollis double. An error would score Hollis on the next at bat.
After a scoreless fourth inning, VSU added three more runs behind two errors on the same play by TU as Chris Jones, Ryan Danbury and Antonio Clark all scored. VSU added another run in the bottom of the fifth inning as a Clayton Cain single scored Decker on the next play as VSU took an 11-0 lead.
Tiffin added three runs in the top of the sixth inning as they managed four straight hits off VSU starter Jeremy Forbus to begin the inning. Forbus then retired the next three batters to end the inning as TU left one runner on base.
A Chris Jones triple added another run for VSU in the bottom of the sixth inning as Jordan Hollis crossed home plate to make the score 12-3, VSU. A Brandon Decker fly out with the bases loaded ended the Blazers chance for more runs.
VSU added another run in the bottom of the seventh inning as Clayton Cain, who reached on a walk, crossed the plate on a Jordan Yost fly out to left field.
Tiffin added three runs in the top of the eighth inning on two walks, a hit-by-pitch and two VSU errors, which made the score 13-6.
Brandon Decker finished the game 3-5 with eight RBI’s, which gives Decker 35 on the season.
“I was just looking for a pitch up and I got a few,” Decker said. “I did what I should do and to help my team is all that matters. I am just glad I can help out the team.”
With the three committed errors on the night, VSU has now committed 45 on the season.
The Blazers will take on top ranked Florida Southern in a three game series this weekend at Billy Grant Field while the VSU basketball teams will be playing in Arkansas as part of the Division II NCAA tournament.
“I think we will face the best team that we have played all year this weekend,” Guilliams said. “The trust is that if we don’t have our A game out, we won’t win. With me, it starts with our defense. We are making too many errors right now.”
All events can be read at VSUspectator.com.