VALDOSTA — For the first time under head coach Greg Guilliams, the Valdosta State baseball team claimed an opening day victory.

The Blazers used solid offense and precise defense to beat the Lindenwood (Mo.) Lions 6-2 at Billy Grant Field.

“It is what is it is,” Gulliams said about posting his first opening day victory as Blazer head coach. “In baseball you play 50 regular season games, so it is unlike football where you only play 10 or 11. But, I was just happy that we came out and played well.”

Led by senior Christian Glission, who played at Lowndes High School and finished the game 4 for 4 at the plate with two runs batted in and two runs scored, the Blazers tallied 11 hits in the afternoon affair.

“In our exhibition games, Christian had not swung the bat well,” Guilliams said. “Cameron had just, lately, been swinging the bat well. But, that just shows you what kind of players they are, that they stepped up when it counted.”

Returning senior Cameron Graves put forth a solid effort at the plate, finishing the game 3 for 3, crossing home plate on two separate occasions and reaching base in all four of his at bats. Cooper Lemonds finished the game 2 of 4 with 2 RBI in his first contest with Valdosta State.

On the hill, the Blazers received a solid outing from starter Jarod Carlton, who allowed two runs on five hits in five innings of work. The junior transfer from Sante Fe Community College also struck out five batters.

“Jarod Carlton went out and pitched us five quality innings, he gave us a good start,” Guilliams said. “That allowed us to use our bullpen.”

Valdosta State wasted little time jumping ahead of the Lions, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first inning, all of which came with two outs.

Graves got the action started in the inning, driving in Chaz Bagwell, who was on base following a hit-by-pitch. Marc Overstreet then drove in Graves with a single into right field. Christian Glisson followed up Overstreet’s single with one of his own, which moved Overstreet to third base. The single by Glisson marked the third-straight for the Blazers.

Overstreet scored just a few pitches later when Guilliams called for a double-steal, which moved Glisson to second. Lemonds then drove in Glisson with a double, making the score 4-0.

“Our chemistry is great,” Glisson said. “We came out in the first inning and put up a four-spot. I just think that speaks volumes about what we are doing as a team, since we did all of that with two outs.”

Lindenwood earned a run back in both the third and fourth innings. The Lions didn’t record their first hit of the afternoon until the third inning.

Valdosta State quickly recovered though, securing two runs in the bottom of the third inning.

Once again, it was Graves and Glisson who played a key part in the inning’s success. Graves scored on a Glisson single, after reaching base with an infield single and then advancing to second on a throwing error. The very next batter, Cooper Lemonds, brought Glisson back around to score, connecting on a double after fighting off several foul balls in his at-bat.

After replacing Carlton in the top of the sixth inning, Steven Groves continued the impressive pitching performance for Valdosta State, getting the Lions in 1-2-3-fashion in the top of the inning, with the final two outs coming on a double-play fly out to center field.  

Ben Watson later replaced Groves on the hill after Groves walked two of the first three batters to start the seventh inning. Watson bailed VSU out of the inning without allowing any damage. In the eighth inning, Watson surrendered two hits, but was bailed out with an impressive defensive play from Bagwell in right field, which ended the inning.

Bagwell’s eighth inning play, which was a line drive throw to Glisson, who blocked the plate for a tag out, was one of many impressive plays by the Blazer defense, which committed zero errors, a feat VSU accomplished just eight times in 49 games last season.

“You know, our infielders, I wouldn’t say they are flashy, but I think they are solid,” Guilliams said of his defense. “So if those guys can make the routine plays, consistently, then we will play good defense.”

Following their two runs in the bottom of the third inning, the Blazers cooled off at the plate, recording just three hits across the final five innings of play.

“I think we could have closed it out a little better there in the end,” Glisson said. “I think we let the pitchers get into a groove a little bit, but I think we played solid, through and through.”

Valdosta State continues action in the Comfort Suites Tournament today with a game versus North Georgia. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. at Billy Grant Field.