VALDOSTA, Ga. – No. 16/25 UWF baseball scored three times in the top of the ninth to erase a late one-run Blazer lead at Valdosta State Sunday. The Argos got RBIs from Dylan Menhennett, Isaac Phillips and Matt Sullivan in their final turn at bat to flip a 5-4 deficit into a 7-5 win.
 
"I'm so proud of this team, and all the credit to them and their fight," said UWF head coach Mike Jeffcoat.
 
Kirk Maddox (1-0) earned the win after pitching three straight scoreless innings from the sixth through the eighth. He did not allow a hit while facing 10 batters. The Argos went to the relief corps early after starter Jared Hatch exited in the third. Hatch allowed five runs (three earned) in two-plus innings.
 
Jay Simpson, Hunter Lucas and Maddox combined for five straight scoreless innings from the fourth through the eighth before Daniel Floyd added a final zero in the ninth to earn his second save of the series and third save of the season.
 
"I started going to the 'pen and each guy did a little bit to help us," said Jeffcoat. "I thought the big guy out of the 'pen was Kirk Maddox. He really held them in check there. He hasn't pitched a lot but he really stepped up for us."
 
The game was a banner one for Menhennett, who went 3 for 4 with three runs scored and one RBI. Adam Imwalle and Menhennett sparked the rally in the ninth when Imwalle reached via walk, stole second and scored on an RBI base hit by Menhennett. Menhennett himself scored shortly thereafter on a base hit by Phillips.
 
UWF scored six times from the sixth on to erase what was once a 5-1 deficit. The Argos outhit the Blazers 9-6. Each team committed two errors. Imwalle finished one hit, one run and two RBIs, which he picked up on a base hit to score Matthew Estrada and Matt Sullivan in the sixth. The swing lessened the Blazer lead to 5-3.
 
Travis Eubanks (0-2) suffered the loss following after allowing three runs (two earned) in the ninth. The Blazers (13-13, 4-7 GSC) had just one hit after the third inning. The sweep was the first at Valdosta State for the UWF program under Mike Jeffcoat.
 
"We're just going to keep doing what we're doing and hopefully they've got the momentum going and they believe in themselves, and we'll see where it takes us," said Jeffcoat.
 
UWF (18-8, 11-1 GSC) will look to continue its winning ways when it returns to Pensacola this week. The Argos will meet Wisconsin-Whitewater (1-2) at Blue Wahoos Stadium Wednesday. First pitch is slated for 5:00 p.m.
 
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