Christian Malone
The Valdosta Daily Times
VALDOSTA —
VALDOSTA — Valdosta State’s baseball team scored six runs in the second inning and four more in the fifth, and defeated Alabama-Huntsville 11-7 on Sunday afternoon at Billy Grant Field.
The win improved Valdosta State’s record to 22-10, and 2-1 in Gulf South Conference play.
Alabama-Huntsville (16-8, 3-3) took an early lead, scoring four runs in the top of the first. VSU starter Luke Connell retired the first two batters, but then he walked Ryan McCrory, hit Nick Huckaby with a pitch and threw four straight balls to Jeremy Dorrance, loading the bases. Jerome Dunning followed with a double to left-center, scoring all three runners. Christopher Parkman singled up the middle, scoring Dunning and giving the Chargers a 4-0 lead.
But Valdosta State responded with a big inning of its own, scoring six runs in the bottom of the second, and took a lead it would not relinquish.
Clayton Cain started the bottom of the second with a single, then Austin Smith singled up the middle. Jake Summers’ single loaded the bases. Bobby Triglia followed with a two-run single to left, scoring Cain and Smith. Jordan Hollis bunted, and reached safely when the throw to first was wide of the bag. Summers scored, and Triglia moved to third on the play. Triglia scored on a wild pitch, tying the score at 4-4.
One out later, Ryan Danbury was hit by a pitch, then Antonio Clark doubled down the right field line to score Hollis. Brandon Decker drove in Danbury with a sacrifice fly, giving VSU a 6-4 lead.
“To be able to go down 4-0, and be able come back like that, I was pretty proud of that,” Valdosta State head coach Greg Guilliams said.
The Blazers added four more runs in the bottom of the fifth with a pair of two-out home runs. Cain launched a long fly ball over the Park Avenue Bank sign in left-center for his 10th home run of the season, making it 7-4. Then Smith doubled to right-center and Summers reached on a throwing error by UAH shortstop Cory Trapp. Triglia came to the plate, and drilled a three-run homer over the Chili’s sign in left-center. The home run earned free chips and queso from Chili’s for everyone in the crowd, and gave the Blazers a 10-4 lead.
The Blazers scored their final run in the seventh. Cain and Smith walked to start the inning, and advanced on Summers’ sacrifice bunt. With two outs, UAH reliever Byne Gooden uncorked a wild pitch, and Cain raced home to give VSU an 11-4 lead.
Jeremy Forbus entered the game in relief of Connell to start the second inning, and shut down the Chargers’ lineup. Forbus (4-1) shut out UAH for the next six innings. The senior right-hander surrendered six hits and two runs, while striking out eight.
“Jeremy was special today,” Guilliams said. “For him to be able to throw six shutout innings (was impressive). He pitched, and it was fun to watch ... For him to throw up zeroes like that, and then give our offense a chance, that was a big boost for our club.”
Alabama-Huntsville got three runs in the eighth, on an RBI double by Bradley Ray and a two-run single by Ryan McCrory. But VSU reliever Brett Kennedy retired the side in the ninth, and closed out VSU’s 22nd win of the season.
At the plate, Triglia had two hits, scored twice and drove in five runs for VSU. Cain had two hits and scored three runs, while Smith had two hits and scored two runs.
UAH starter Dustin Bryant (3-2) gave up five hits and six runs, four of which were earned, in two innings. Dunning finished with two hits in four at-bats, and drove in three runs for the Chargers.
Valdosta State returns to action next Saturday, when it opens a three-game series against West Alabama.
