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MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. - In a baseball game that started over an hour late because of a miscommunication with the umpires, Valdosta State University (35-16) got started early with five runs in the first, riding it to a 15-5 win over No. 13 Georgia College & State University (35-14) at John Kurtz Field tonight (April 18).

The Blazers hit four home runs, including two in the five-run first.  

Georgia College started to chip away at the five run advantage, getting a run in the second on a bases-loaded walk and another in the third on a Buddy Elmore (Dallas) single, for a 5-2 score.

VSU then busted the game back open with a three-run fourth. Six runs in the eighth and ninth took the game further out of reach.

Valdosta State's Jeremy Forbus (3-1) worked 4 2/3 innings of shutout ball, allowing one hit and fanning six Bobcats. Righty starter Kyle Cravey (Cordele, Ga.) suffered his first Division II loss (4-1), going just one inning and allowing five runs.

The Bobcats had two multi-hit performers in rightfielder Derek Johns (Waynesville, Ga.) and Elmore. Johns was 2-for-5 with a run and an RBI, while Elmore finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

For the Blazers, catcher Chase Blackwood led the way, going 3-for-5 with five RBI and three runs, knocking two home runs for 16 on the season. The top two hitters in the order for VSU were a combined 5-of-9, scoring seven times and driving in six.

The Bobcats are back in action tomorrow, April 29 at 5 p.m. hosting a non-conference game against Peach Belt Conference (PBC) opponent Columbus State University.

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