 "Photo: uwgsports.com")
In a weekend characterized by heavy batting power, the University of West Georgia Wolves baseball team dropped two games of a three-game series against visiting Gulf South Conference rival Valdosta State University.
In the first game of Friday’s doubleheader, the Wolves and Blazers traded runs in the first three innings. Batting second in the bottom of the first, Wolves right fielder Brett Wright hit an infield single and then stole second base. Wright then moved over to third base on a Blazers’ fielding error. Designated hitter Josh Whitehead flew out and Wright tagged, scoring the Wolves’ first run.
The Blazers answered back in the top of the third when second baseman Chris Jones doubled to left field. Shortstop Jon Koenigsfeld singled, moving Jones over to third base. A fly-out from right fielder Brandon Decker brought Jones home and tied the game 1-1.
In the bottom of that inning the Wolves’ bats exploded in a fury. Leadoff hitter Wright and shortstop Justin Smith hit back-to-back singles up the middle. After Blazers’ starting pitcher Ross Gusky hit Whitehead with a throw, a third single by right fielder Mike Markakis scored Wright. Smith scored when Gusky hit the next batter, third baseman Brandon Mainor. Second baseman Ben Lillis then launched a grand slam over the center field wall, propelling the Wolves into the lead 7-1.
After a Koenigsfeld RBI-single in the top of the fourth inning, the Blazers’ bats especially opened up in the tops of the seventh and eighth innings. In the seventh inning, centerfield Antonio Clark doubled and then scored on a RBI-single by Decker. Later in the inning, first baseman Jake Summers tripled, scoring Decker. Another RBI-single from left fielder Jordan Yost brought Summers home. In the eighth inning, Decker hit a three-run home run. Designated hitter Clayton Cain followed with a solo home run blast, giving the Blazers a 9-7 lead.
However, the Wolves knocked out several home runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Catcher David Buchanan blasted a home run over left field followed by a two-run homerun by Smith again over left field. The Wolves won the game 10-9.
Wolves’ reliever earned the hard-fought victory at 1-2, while Blazers left-fielder Jordan Yost, who was moved to the mound, acquired the loss by 2-2.
Unfortunately, a late inning batting surge was not enough to redeem the Wolves amidst pitching woes in Friday’s late afternoon game.
The Blazers jumped ahead early in the game with 10 unanswered runs. Among the Blazers’ offensive highlights were a two-run homerun by the right fielder Brandon Decker and two RBI-singles from left-fielder Jordan Yost and shortstop Jon Koenigsfeld each.
As a testament to the pitching troubles that plagued the Wolves throughout the game, three Blazers RBIs came off a HBP (hit-by-pitch) while another three RBIs came off of a walk. Wolves’ starting pitcher Toby Jordan lasted only two innings allowing six hits and six runs.
The Wolves’ offense came alive beginning in the bottom of the fourth inning. Designated hitter Josh Whitehead and centerfielder Mike Markakis each connected with the ball for a single, which was followed by a RBI-double from third baseman Blake Parrot. Whitehead scored and Markakis advanced to third base. Alex Duhaime, who pinched hit for second baseman Ben Lillis, grounded out to second base and brought Markakis home for the score.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, shortstop Justin Smith and Whitehead batted back-to-back singles. The next batter, Markakis, hit a three-run homerun. In the very next inning, Smith hit a double then scored on an RBI-single by Whitehead, closing the gap 15-7. The Wolves’ final two runs however came off a ground out-RBI and a wild pitch. The Blazers scored four more runs, beating the Wolves 19-9.
Blazers starter Jeremy Forbus earned the win by 6-1, while Jordan acquired the loss, his first of the season.
In Saturday’s series finale, the Blazers’ batting again harassed the Wolves’ pitching with little to no support from the Wolves’ batting. The one offensive moment for the Wolves occurred in the bottom of the third inning. First baseman Michael Hornsby and right fielder Brett Wright batted consecutive singles. Shortstop Justin Smith followed up with another single, scoring Hornsby for the Wolves’ first run. A fourth single by designated hitter Josh Whitehead, his fifth in the series, brought Wright home for the Wolves’ final run of the game. True to their name, Valdosta State blazed over the Wolves by 18-2 to win the series.
Blazers starter Brett Kennedy posted an impressive seven-inning show and captured the win at 5-3, while Wolves starter John Lees acquired the loss, his seventh. As with Jordan, Lees lasted only two innings.
All in all, both teams’ offenses combined for 94 total hits and 67 total runs.
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