Valdosta State AthleticsValdosta State’s Chipper Andzel awaits a pitch from Florida Southern during the NCAA Division II South Regional in Cleveland, Miss., on Thursday night.

The Valdosta State Blazers (33-21) got behind early and couldn’t quite get back, losing 6-3 to the Florida Southern Mocs in the NCAA South Region Tournament opener on Thursday night.

Trailing 5-3 in the bottom of the eighth, the Blazers committed back-to-back errors from third baseman Elias Macias and relief pitcher Beau Blair. An RBI single to right field by Mocs third baseman Christian Maglich put the Mocs ahead 6-3. In the top of the ninth, Mocs reliever Cameron Hanes secured the save after striking out two of his final three batters to end the game.

The Blazers started the top of the seventh with a spark as left fielder Cody Ilgenfritz came up with a single to center field and a stolen base. The Blazers drew closer on the next at-bat as catcher Clint Carr belted a two-run homer to push the Blazers within two runs of the Mocs, 5-3.

Blazers coach Greg Guilliams pulled starter Hunter Jones to start the sixth inning. His replacement, Cooper Cain, entered the game and promptly gave up a walk to the Mocs’ Jason Sierra. Cain then struck out Mocs designated hitter JP DeBoyer before an error by Blazers short stop Ryan Slaughter allowed Christian Maglich to reach and moved Sierra to third base. On the ensuing at-bat, a wild pitch by Cain brought in Sierra to put the Mocs ahead 5-1.

Left fielder Ilgenfritz led off the fifth inning with a double down the right field line to put a man on base for the Blazers. Catcher Clint Carr grounded out which allowed Ilgenfritz to steal third. The Blazers got on the board when Slaughter knocked an RBI single to left to bring Ilgenfritz home to make it a 4-1 game.

A solo home run by Maglich put the Mocs ahead 4-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning. Blazers starter Hunter Jones atoned for giving up the homer by forcing Vaun Brown, Cody Burgess and Pablo Cabrera to ground out to get out of the inning.

The Mocs took a 3-0 lead on a Jason Sierra RBI single that scored left fielder Mitch Reeves. On the previous at-bat, Reeves delivered an RBI double to bring short stop Omar Villaman home to make it 2-0.

Maglich and Austin Mauer each went 2-for-4 for the Mocs while combining for three RBIs in the win. Starting pitcher Logan Browning picked up the win after going seven innings and striking out eight Blazers. Browning gave up three earned runs but issued just one walk in his time on the mound.

Overall, the Blazers’ offense produced eight hits but left eight on base in the game while the defense struggled, committing a season-high five errors on the night.

Jones, fresh off his All-Region Second Team selection, earned the loss after five innings of work for the Blazers. Jones (6-6) gave up six hits and two earned runs while striking out three and walking two on Friday.

The Blazers remain alive in the South Region tournament as they move to Saturday to take on winner of the Nova Southeastern-Tampa matchup at 4 p.m.

in Cleveland, Miss.