Christian Glisson (7) high-fives teammates Ryan Noelte after scoring a run on a Cameron Graves single in the first inning of Wednesday night’s game against Thomas University in Valdosta. The Blazers won 10-0.

Fresh off being named Gulf South Conference and South Region Player of the Week, Valdosta State left fielder Cameron Graves helped lead the Blazers past Thomas University 10-0 Wednesday night at Billy Grant Field. The game was ended in the eighth inning by run-rule.

Graves was 3 for 4 with two runs batted in, including a home run, ending the night a triple shy of hitting for the cycle.

“I didn’t know I was region Player of the week, but I’ll take it,” Graves said after Wednesday’s victory. “I am just glad we won a middle week game. (Thomas) beat us last time, so we just needed that.”

Graves’ home run in the third inning continued what has been a hot stretch for the Crawfordville, Fla. native, as he now has four homers in the past five games.

“(I’m) just getting set early, and doing a lot of swinging,” Graves said. “I’m just hot right now,  and hopefully I can just keep that going.”

“Cameron has been swinging the bat very well,” Valdosta State head coach Greg Guilliams said. “He is the type of hitter that can carry a club, and he has done that this weekend and today. It is scary when he and (Christian) Glisson are hot at the same time.”

On the night, the Blazers (18-11) pounded out 12 hits, including a home run from Bryant Hayman in the fifth inning, and managed to score in every inning, except the fourth. The win was Valdosta State’s fourth shutout of the season, marking the most since the 2009 season. It also avenged a 7-2 loss to Thomas University that occurred just two weeks ago.

Valdosta State pitcher Zach John earned his first career victory, allowing no runs on two hits in five innings of work on the hill. He was relieved by Benjamin Weil to start the sixth inning. Steven Groves pitched in the eighth inning. As a staff, VSU held Thomas to just two hits.  

“We had a good starting pitcher,” Guilliams said. “Zach John came out and pitched very well. He gave us five solid innings, mixed his pitches well and he didn’t walk anybody. When you get a good start, you have a chance to win.”

VSU took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. With two outs, Christian Glisson singled, and moved to second on a passed ball. The following at-bat, Graves connected on a single, scoring Glisson from second base.

The Blazers added to their lead in the second inning. Bryant Hayman reached base to start the inning on a hit-by-pitch, and moved to third base on an error by Thomas pitcher Blake Williams, which allowed Austin Lawrence to reach first. Hayman later scored on a RBI single from Cooper Lemonds, while Lawrence moved to second.

“The whole thing about Bryant (Hayman) is that he is doing a better job at learning the strike zone,” Guilliams said. “At times he looks like a freshman, and there are times, like tonight, when he doesn’t. He has had a chance to play pretty much every day and I think he is getting to the point now where he gets to the plate and he has confidence.”

The following at-bat, Lawrence scored after Thomas catcher Sergio Piccolo threw a ball into center field, as Lemonds stole second base. Lemonds later scored on a single from Marc Overstreet, which made the score 4-0.

VSU built its lead to 6-0, following homers from Graves and Hayman. In the sixth inning, Steven Groves crossed home plate after Piccolo threw an arrant ball into left field, as he slid into third base. Groves was able to score on the play, giving the Blazers a 7-0 lead.

An inning later, Valdosta State added two more runs. Ryan Noelte reached base on a walk, followed by Hayman, who was hit by a pitch. The two runners scored in the inning to give VSU a 9-0 lead.

The Blazers capped the scoring in the eighth inning, as Overstreet led off with a double. An RBI single from Chad Grant scored Overstreet from third to end the game.