VALDOSTA —
VALDOSTA — Valdosta State played two dominant baseball games, and swept its doubleheader with Shippensburg on Sunday afternoon.
Valdosta State defeated Shippensburg 9-1 in game 1, then won the second game 12-1 at Billy Grant Field.
The Blazers’ hitters pounded the ball all day, scoring 21 runs and collecting 25 hits in the two games. Eleven different VSU players had hits in the doubleheader and 12 different players scored runs.
“I think it was different guys both games,” Valdosta State head coach Greg Guilliams said. “Our team is built for (scoring runs). If you look at our games this year, we have been able to score runs.”
VSU is currently averaging 8.7 runs a game.
The Blazers’ pitchers were dominant, too. Brett Kennedy allowed just one hit in eight innings in game 1, then Tanner Fudge held the Raiders to six hits in five-plus innings. Tyler Wooten closed out both games, and tossed a combined three scoreless innings of relief. VSU’s pitchers did not allow an earned run in either game.
“I thought both games today, our starting pitching was very good,” Guilliams said. “Brett Kennedy, even though at times he got a little wild, gave up one hit in eight innings. Then Tanner Fudge came back and threw five good innings ... We had two really good starting pitching performances.”
The wins improved VSU’s record to 17-5 this season.
Game 1:
Valdosta State 9, Shippensburg 1
In game 1, Shippensburg took an early lead with an unearned run in the first inning. But then Valdosta State scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth, and never trailed again.
Brandon Decker opened the bottom of the fourth with a double to center, and scored two batters later when Jon Koenigsfeld doubled down the left-field line. Jordan Hollis’ double to left-center plated Koenigsfeld to give VSU a 2-1 lead.
Decker’s two-run homer in the fifth increased the Blazers’ lead to 4-1. In the sixth, Ryan Danbury beat out an infield single, stole second and scored when Antonio Clark tripled down the line in left. Austin Smith’s infield single scored Clark, giving VSU a 6-1 lead.
The Blazers added three more runs in the eighth. With one out, Decker walked and took second on a wild pitch. Then Jordan Yost lined a double to the wall in right center, and Decker scored easily. Koenigsfeld followed with an RBI double off of the right field wall, which scored Yost. Koenigsfeld went to third on a wild pitch and scored VSU’s final run on Hollis’ double to right center, making it 9-1.
Shippensburg (1-14) had taken an early 1-0 lead with an unearned run in the top of the first inning.
Kennedy (4-2) allowed just one hit, while striking out 10 batters in eight innings. Koenigsfeld went 3 for 5 with two doubles, two RBIs, two runs scored and two stolen bases. Danbury was 3 for 5 with a run and two stolen bases. Decker went 2 for 3 with a home run, two RBIs and three runs scored. Hollis was 2 for 4 with a pair of doubles, and drove in a couple of runs.
Valdosta State 12, Shippensburg 1
In game 2, Valdosta State scored nine runs in the first four innings, took a big lead and completed the doubleheader sweep with an 11-run victory.
Valdosta State got on the board in the first inning. Danbury led off the inning with a single, stole second and moved to third on a Clark single. Decker grounded into a double play, but Danbury scored to give VSU a 1-0 lead.
Chris Jones’ two-run double in the second scored Koenigsfeld and Hollis, and gave the Blazers a 3-0 lead.
The Blazers extended their lead to 8-0 with a five-run third. Decker walked, advanced on a wild pitch and a Clayton Cain single, then scored on a wild pitch. Jake Summers and Smith walked, loading the bases. Koenigsfeld hit into a double play, but Cain scored. Hollis’ single to left scored Summers and made it 6-0. Later in the inning, Danbury’s infield single scored Hollis and Jones scored on an error.
Cain led off the fourth with his sixth home run of the year, making it 9-0. Shippensburg scored an unearned run in the fifth.
The Blazers scored their final three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Singles by Josh Higginbotham and Don DiPetta put two men on with two outs. Then Koenigsfeld doubled off the fence, scoring Higginbotham. Conrad Boron was hit by a pitch, loading the bases, then Jones was hit by a pitch, forcing in a run. Koenigsfeld scored the final run of the game on an error, making it 12-1.
Fudge (1-1) scattered six hits and walked one while striking out nine batters in five-plus innings. At the plate, Cain went 3 for 3 with a homer, an RBI and two runs scored. Danbury had two hits, giving him a total of five hits on Sunday. Jones drove in three runs.
Shippensburg’s Jimmy Miller (0-2) allowed seven hits and eight runs in 2 2/3 innings.
Valdosta State returns to the ballfield today, when it hosts Tiffin at 4 p.m. at Billy Grant Field.
Local Sports
Blazers dominate doubleheader with Shippensburg
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