Written by Alex Tostado

The Valdosta State baseball team (10-10) avenges an early season loss to Flagler College (9-14) after beating the Saints   6-3 Wednesday night at Billy        Grant Field

The Saints beat VSU back on Feb. 6. in St. Augustine but in the second meeting this season, the Blazers got the bats going early scoring four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and the pitching took them to the finish line.

“We just saw some good pitches in the fourth inning and we were fortunate enough to string some hits together,” third baseman Michael Gouge said. “We scored enough early to throw them off.”

Starting pitcher Jarrod Carlton went 4.1 innings and struck out two while walking three and did not allow any runs.

Relief pitcher Benjamin Weil came into the game in the fifth inning and struck out four of the six batters he faced.

“I actually was just trying to get ahead of the batters,” Weil said. “I was trying to not give up Carlton’s runs (runners on base when Weil entered the game).”

VSU total batted in four of the six runs while one came from a Flagler wild pitch and another from a stolen base.

The Blazers finished with nine hits and only struck out five times.

Flagler has had problems of its own, especially on the road now dropping to 1-8 on the road.

The Blazers have struggled this season but have an impressive 9-3 record at home this season.

“Getting back on the winning track again, hopefully, before we start with conference play this weekend is important,” head coach Greg Guilliams said.

The Blazers will continue their home stand as they welcome Gulf South Conference foe West Alabama on Saturday for a double header at 3:30 and 6:30 and again on Sunday at 1 p.m.

“I hope it builds some guys confidence and hopefully they look at these wins and it builds their confidence,” Guilliams said.

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