Valdosta State’s Cooper Lemonds (27) attempts to tag Lindenwood’s Colton Moore (16) after catching a high throw to first base during Friday afternoon’s game at Billy Grant Field in Valdosta.

Just 24 hours after earning an impressive opening day victory, the Valdosta State baseball team struggled to find a rhythm against North Georgia, as the Blazers fell to the Saints 8-3.

North Georgia pitcher Blake Hobby was a major factor for VSU’s struggles. The senior right-hander held the Blazers to just one run on four hits across his eight innings of work on the hill.

“Hobby showed what ace pitchers do, they stop losing streaks,” Valdosta State head coach Greg Guilliams said. “He was very good tonight. I wish our approach would have been better, but at the end of the day, you have to tip your hat to him. I thought he pitched very well.”

To go along with Hobby’s strong performance on the mound, the Saints’ offensive was also impressive. North Georgia jumped on the Blazers with a run in the first inning and another in the fourth inning before exploding for five runs in the top of the seventh. The Saints then added one more run in the top of the ninth to take an 8-1 lead.  

“We were trying to do what North Georgia did, which was hit the ball on the backside of the field,” Guilliams said. “They did it tonight and we didn’t. We had a lot of ground ball outs and a lot of hooked balls, and you can’t do that.”

Despite being held hitless until the fifth inning, Valdosta State had plenty of opportunities to score runs. The Blazers left the bases loaded in the bottom of the first inning after having two runners reach on walks and a third after being hit by a pitch. Chad Grant flew out to centerfield to end the inning.

Two innings later, the Blazers had chances to bring runners across. With just one out, the Blazers had runners at the corners, but Christian Glisson, who scored VSU’s first run of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning, was caught in a pickoff move at first. That was followed up by a groundout to third base by Cameron Graves, which ended the inning and left Ryan Noelte stranded at third.

After leaving another runner stranded in the fifth inning, the Blazers left two more stranded in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings, brining their total of stranded runners to 11 in the game.

“I thought Hobby got better when we had some chances to score,” Guilliams said. “We just struggled, offensively.”

North Georgia relief pitcher Reese Patten struggled to put away the Blazers in the bottom of the ninth inning, surrendering a walk and back-to-back singles to load the bases. From there, Patten threw two wild pitchers, which scored Bruce Jackson and Zachary Rios, to bring the score to 8-3. Christian Glisson then reached base after being hit by a pitch, but Cameron Graves flew out to right field top end the game.

Valdosta State starting pitcher Pete Whittingslow took the loss, despite recording 10 strikeouts on the night. The left-hander found trouble in the first inning, as Jordan Erisman started the frame off with a single and later scored on a Kenny Bellavance single, but managed to find his groove, recording six strikeouts across the next eight batters. His streak was ended after surrendering a run in the top of the fourth inning.

Following the run in the fourth, Whittingslow calmed back down, striking out three more batters before being replaced in the top of the sixth inning by Zach John.

“I thought for the first time out, I thought Pete threw very well,” Guilliams said. “He disappointed that he walked two guys and I had to go get him, but he was getting tired. His pitch count was right around 100 and I was hoping to get him out a little earlier, but Pete threw very well. I was really happy with the way he pitched tonight.”

John was replaced after 2/3 of an inning in which he allowed four runs on three hits. Benjamin Weil finished the game for Valdosta State.

The Blazers close out the Comfort Suites Classic today with a game versus St. Leo. The Lions are 2-0 on the weekend.