For the first time since 2013, the Valdosta State baseball program has earned the right to compete in the NCAA Division II South Regional, with this year’s tournament taking place in Cleveland, Miss., at Delta State University.

The Blazers enter the field of 64 in the South Region bracket as the No. 5-seeded team. 

Valdosta State’s first matchup in the double-elimination tournament will be against the No. 4-seeded Florida Southern out of the Sunshine State Conference. Valdosta State enters the tournament with a 33-20 overall record, while the Mocs will come in sporting a 34-15 record.

No. 1-seeded Delta State joins the fray as the tournament host with a 41-11 record on the season. DSU will face the winner of Valdosta State’s opener against FSC on Friday at 4 p.m., while Thursday night’s losing team will fall into a loser’s bracket contest on Saturday at 4 p.m. against the losing team of a No. 3 Nova Southeastern (33-16) matchup against No. 6 West Alabama.(34-19). No. 2 Tampa will also compete in the tournament and will open up against No. 7 Miles (31-21), who will serve as the lone representative out of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Valdosta State’s opening contest is slated for 8 p.m. Thursday and full coverage of the tournament will be available via links  at www.vstateblazers.com. A video live stream of all games will be provided by Delta State, and Blazer Athletics will bring audio coverage of all Valdosta State games, courtesy of WDDQ Talk 92.1 FM in Valdosta.