Valdosta State banged out 12 hits and took advantage of four errors by Florida Tech to defeat the Panthers 7-2 in non-conference baseball action at Billy Grant Field Friday evening.

After Valdosta State (2-3) left the bases loaded in the first inning, Florida Tech (3-1) opened the scoring in the top of the second inning as it plated a two-out run. After a pair of strikeouts to open the frame, Ryan Coward drew a walk and moved to second on a balk by VSU starting pitcher Pete Whittingslow. Jimmie Koch followed with a ground ball to third that was misplayed by Austin Lawrence, allowing Coward to score for a 1-0 FIT lead.

 The Blazers struck for a pair of runs in the third inning to take the lead. Chaz Bagwell manufactured the first run as he singled and stole second and third. Marc Overstreet followed with a double to left to plate Bagwell and moved to third on a bloop single by Chad Grant. An error on a fielder’s choice by Steven Groves allowed Overstreet to score to give Valdosta State a 2-1 advantage.

VSU pushed its lead to 4-1 with a pair of runs in the fifth inning. Overstreet reached on a throwing error to open the frame and, two batters later, moved to third when Groves delivered a hit through the right-side of the infield on a hit-and-run.

A ground out by Cooper Lemonds plated Overstreet while Groves moved to third on an Austin Lawrence base hit. Lawrence was caught in a run down while trying to steal second, but stayed alive long enough to allow Groves to score for the three-run Valdosta State lead.

The Blazers added three more unearned runs thanks to another Panther error in the sixth. After a leadoff single by Bryant Hayman, Ryan Noelte laid down a sacrifice bunt and reached base safely when the throw to first skipped in front of FIT first baseman Scott Carcaise. A Bagwell sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position and, after a ground out, Overstreet was intentionally walked to load the bases. Grant followed with a line drive single to center that scored a pair of runs and moved Overstreet to third, allowing him to score on a Groves single for a 7-1 VSU lead.

The Panthers got back to within five runs with a run in the seventh to close out the scoring.

 Groves led the Blazers offensively as he went 3-for-4 with two runs batted in while also allowing only one hit and striking out three over the final two-and-a-third innings on the mound.

Overstreet and Grant each tallied two hits in the game. Benjamin Weil improved to 1-1 on the year as he allowed no hits and one run in two innings of relief.

K.C. Clabough tallied two of Florida Tech’s five hits while starter Jason Boyer fell to 1-1 after allowing five hits and four run, only two of which were earned, in 5.0 innings of work.

 The two teams return to action with a doubleheader in Melbourne, Fla. on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.