VALDOSTA –– The Valdosta State baseball team returns home to host a midweek game today at 5 p.m. versus Albany State at Billy Grant Field at Tommy Thomas Park.

The Blazers went 3-1 last week in three games at Florida Tech as VSU downed Wingate twice and lost a disappointing game to Florida Tech (6-5) and won in the 2019 home-opener against Flagler, 6-4. VSU stands at 6-1 on the year.

Fans can access links to live stats and streaming at vstateblazers.com on the baseball schedule page. Check back following the game for complete results and a recap of the game.

In last weekend’s series at Florida Tech, VSU won twice over Wingate, 4-3 and 3-1 as VSU hit .315 for the weekend games with 34 hits, 12 runs scored, five doubles, one home run and seven RBI. The team slugged .389 and recorded five walks, three hit batsmen and reached base at a .359 clip. VSU was 5 of 5 in stolen bases and had a .970 fielding percentage with three errors leading to two unearned runs.

For the week, senior Josh Broughton hit .563 for the weekend with nine hits in 16 at bats, along with three doubles and five runs scored. In all, four Blazers hit over .400 for the week playing in all four games. VSU hit .304, while holding the opposition to a .231 average. On the mound, junior Cooper Cain went 6.1 innings, allowing two hits, one earned run, walked two and fanned a career-high 13 for his first win of the season in the 3-1 win over Wingate to close the weekend. Senior closer Trevin Eubanks had three saves on the week.

Albany State enters with a 3-3 record after going 1-2 last weekend at home versus Emmanuel College (Ga.). This will be the Golden Rams’ first road game of the season as they hosted a three-game series with Young Harris the first weekend, going 2-1.

The Golden Rams are hitting .256 for the season with 50 hits in 195 at bats, while scoring 31 runs with 11 doubles, one triple, three home runs and 25 RBI. The team is slugging .269 and reaching base at a .345 clip. ASU is 7 of 8 in stolen bases and has as .971 fielding percentage with six errors leading to five unearned runs.

Individually, Kyle Walker leads the team from the dish as he has a .412 average with seven hits in 17 at bats, scoring one run. Kevin Bryant II also has seven hits for a .368 average with six runs scored, one double and all three home runs, along with ten RBI. Bryant II is slugging a team-high .895 and reaching base at a .400 clip with four walks and three hit batsmen.

On the mound, ASU has a 5.71 ERA in 52 innings, allowing 48 hits, 38 runs – 33 earned, walked 36 and fanned 41. Teams are hitting .241 against the Golden Rams. Malik Barrington is 2-0 with a 1.5 ERA in 12 innings to lead the team. He has allowed eight hits, three runs – two earned, walked four and fanned 13 as teams are hitting .186 against him. Oliu Roman is 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA in 12 innings. Michael Reddick has one save on the year. Teams are hitting .256 against the Golden Rams.

This is the first of two meetings with ASU this season as VSU is scheduled for a Mar. 13 game in Albany, Ga., to complete the season series.

VSU is led by Broughton this season as he is hitting .464 in seven games. He has a team-high 13 hits with six runs scored, four doubles and four RBI. Broughton is slugging .607 and reaching base at a .515 clip with four walks. He is 3 for 4 in stolen bases.

Senior Aaron Haughton is second in average at a .429 clip in seven games. He is 9 of 21 batting with three runs scored, one home run and a team-high six RBI. Haughton is slugging a team-best .714 and has a team-high five walks for a .538 on-base percentage.

As a team, the Blazers are hitting .303 with 70 hits in 231 at bats, while scoring 36 runs, along with ten doubles, two home runs and 27 RBI. The team is slugging .372 and reaching base at a .390 clip with 29 walks and been hit by pitches five times. VSU is reaching base at a .390 clip and is 12 of 17 in stolen bases, while recording a .967 fielding percentage with eight errors leading to four unearned runs.

On the bump, the Blazers boast a 2.85 ERA in 60 innings. VSU has one shutout with five saves, while allowing 54 hits, 23 runs – 19 earned, walked 28 and fanned 89 as teams are hitting .238 against them. Six different Blazers are 1-0 on the year as Cain leads the team pitching 9.1 innings, allowing six hits, three earned runs, walked four and fanned a team-high 19. Teams are hitting .176 against Cain. Broughton has two saves for the Blazers, while Eubanks has three saves.

Following the game, VSU heads to Lee for a three-game series, Feb. 16-17, to open Gulf South Conference play. Lee is 3-4 on the year after being swept at No. 23 Saint Leo in a three-game series over the weekend.