VALDOSTA, Ga. – Chipper Andziel hit a two-run game-ending double to left field as Valdosta State University came away with a 4-3 win over No. 20 (
Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Division II Top 30) Flagler College in a non-conference baseball game Wednesday evening at Billy Grant Field.
Valdosta State improved to 14-6 overall while Flagler dipped to 14-6.
The bottom of the ninth started off for the Blazers with a walk and a hit batsman by Flagler closer
Luke Cooksey (1-1). Mason Miller laid down a bunt that
Jason Moore grabbed quickly and forced out Tyler Morris at third base. Cooksey struck out the next batter and then Andziel ended the game with his double to left.
Jake Hathaway scored on a wild pitch by Valdosta State reliever Tristan Cone in the top of the eighth to give Flagler a 3-2 lead.
Andziel went 2-for-4 with the two runs batted in for the Blazers. Luke Suchon went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in the second, the game's first tally. Dalton Murray collected two singles and scored a run while Max Abramson went 2-for-4 with a double.
Beau Blair (1-1) pitched a scoreless ninth for Valdosta State with two strikeouts. Daniel Williams started and lasted 4 1/3 innings. He allowed seven hits and two earned runs. Williams fanned five.
Moore led the Saints going 3-for-4 with a double and he scored a run.
Dylan Jones collected a pair of doubles and scored a run. Hathaway singled twice and scored a run.
Bryce Evans hit a double.
Cooksey tossed the final 1 2/3 innings. He surrendered two hits and two runs. Cooksey walked two and fanned two.
Ryan Ashworth pitched six-plus innings, scattered seven hits and allowed two runs.
Nick Martinez pitched the remainder of the seventh and did not allow a run.
Flagler returns home for a big three-game Peach Belt Conference series against the defending southeast region champion, Lander University. The first game is Friday night at 6 p.m. at Drysdale Field.