PENSACOLA, Fla. – UWF baseball (30-17, 19-9 GSC) split a doubleheader vs. Valdosta State (19-26, 11-17 GSC) Saturday at Jim Spooner Field, falling in Game 1 10-3 before bouncing back for a 15-5 Game 2 win. The Argos and Blazers will wrap the regular season tomorrow at 1:00 p.m.
Playing in his first games since suffering an injury March 21, Nic Strasser starred for the Argos, reaching four times in Game 1 before getting on twice more in Game 2. The Argos improved to 19-5 at home this season with the Game 2 win.
Game 1: Blazers 10, Argos 3
Valdosta State tagged UWF starter Tony Kucera for a season-high eight runs (seven earned) over 3.1 innings to race out to a big lead early in Game 1. Kucera put the Blazers away 1-2-3 in the first but struggled thereafter, dropping to 6-3 on the season after his toughest outing of 2018.
"We just got behind too far and never really showed any fight," said UWF head coach Mike Jeffcoat about the Game 1 loss. "All credit to Valdosta."
The Argos only managed three singles against VSU starter Hunter Jones over the first six innings. UWF also failed to take advantage of four walks from Jones, scoring just once on a two-out RBI single by Strasser in the fifth. The team added two more in the ninth vs. Chris Elliott on RBIs by Matthew Estrada and Jacob Silverstein but could get no closer than the final margin of 10-3.
Jared Middleton posted 3.2 innings of scoreless relief after taking over for Kucera in the fourth, and Trace Penton allowed two runs over the final two innings on the mound for UWF.
Game 2: Argos 15, Blazers 5
After struggling with the bats in Game 1, the Argos found their swings in Game 2. The team exploded for 15 runs and 11 hits against a parade of Valdosta State hurlers.
"I just think we got on the board there in the first inning and got the confidence rolling," said Jeffcoat. "Anytime you can get on the board first and get some cushion there, it gives the gives the pitcher a little freedom to feel like they don't have to have every pitch perfect."
Matt Sullivan powered the offense with a big night, racking up three hits, including a long three-run home run to left in the sixth, and four RBIs. Brandon Harmon went off for two hits and three RBIs. Trevor Payne also finished with three RBIs.
Dylan Mills-Derouen got the start for the Argos and pitched into the fourth, allowing four hits and two runs (two earned) while striking out six and walking four. Jared Gonzalez (3-1) picked up the win after going three innings in relief and surrendering three runs (three earned) on five hits. Alex Knight finished the evening with a scoreless seventh.
The Argos will enter the last game of the regular season in position to earn the third-seed in the GSC Tournament. A win or a loss by North Alabama vs. Alabama Huntsville and a loss by Mississippi College vs. Delta State will assure the Argos the No. 3 position heading into conference postseason play.
"Seeding makes a lot of difference," said Jeffcoat. "We've got to stay at the top if we can, and you're just playing for pride regardless of what the game is for. It's a game in our uniform, it's a game on our home field. We want to finish the season the right way in front of our fans, in front of our families, and go represent."
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