PENSACOLA, Fla. – UWF baseball (30-18, 19-10 GSC) dropped a heartbreaker on Senior Day to Valdosta State (20-26, 12-17 GSC) 11-9 in 12 innings at Jim Spooner Field Sunday. The Argos battled back from a 7-1 deficit to force extras but could not wrap up the win in the final home game of the season.
"I'm proud of our guys' fight today," said UWF head coach Mike Jeffcoat. "Just kept battling and found a way to get back all the way in the eighth and ninth innings. Had opportunities to win the game in the ninth and tenth and just couldn't get a hit or get that run in."
Kirk Maddox got the start for the Argos and lasted 2.1 innings, surrendering eight hits and seven runs (seven earned). He was relieved by Avery Geyer in the third. Geyer would pitch the next 7.2 innings, holding the Blazers to no runs until the 11th. The Pensacola native struck out nine in what would prove to be his most effective performance of the season.
"I thought Avery Geyer did an outstanding job," said Jeffcoat. "Seven innings of shutout ball and kept them right there so we could make the comeback. Unfortunately, we just couldn't close the deal."
The Argos cut an early 7-1 deficit to 7-4 in the fifth with Matthew Jones, Nick Kerkmann and Matt Sullivan all picking up RBI singles against Valdosta State starter Logan Dubbe. The Argos struck again in the eighth, with Robert Lopez driving home Nic Strasser to make it 7-5 before Anthony Mazzurco shot a pinch hit single up the middle to score Lopez and make it 7-6.
Nick Kerkmann led off the bottom of the ninth with a ground rule double and came in on a BJ Harmon RBI single to tie the game. The Argos were unable to walkoff though, leaving the bases loaded for a second consecutive inning.
UWF stranded two aboard in the 10th. In the 11th, Geyer and Josh Pahlad surrendered solo homers that put Valdosta State up 9-7. Nic Strasser and Matthew Estrada came up with clutch RBIs later in the 11th to equalize at 9-9 and keep the game going.
In the 12th, the Blazers struck twice with two outs on an RBI single by Dalton Murray and an RBI double by Aaron Haughton. The Argos were unable to respond, falling 11-9 in their first game of the season that lasted into the 12th.
Pahlad (4-1) suffered the loss while Valdosta State's Ricky Miranda (2-1) picked up the win. Cooper Cain earned his first save by firing a scoreless bottom of the 12th.
Kerkmann finished with four hits, and Lopez finished with three. Seven different Argos finished with multiple hits.
"Proud of the offensive effort today," said Jeffcoat. "Did everything we could, it took a lot to get going again today, just came up short."
The Argos have qualified for the GSC Tournament for the 10th consecutive season. UWF will be the No. 3 seed in the GSC Tournament and will open play at the Championships May 5 at 1:30 vs. 6-seed West Georgia.
"The key to success is pitching. Pitching and defense. Period," said Jeffcoat of the upcoming GSC Tournament. "We've got to pitch better than we've done these last three weeks, or it's going to be a disappointing postseason."
For the latest information on the Argos, follow the team on Twitter @UWF_Baseball.
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