The VSU baseball team lost 7-3 against the Albany State Golden Rams last night to open their season with a 1-3 record. After defeating Lindenwood to open the season, the Blazers have dropped three in a row at Billy Grant Field.

Senior Spencer Butler started on the mound for the Blazers and pitched four very solid innings only giving up three hits and one earned run, while striking out five batters. It was in the fifth inning where things started to fall apart for the Blazers.

Albany State began the 5th inning with a double to deep left field, and Butler was replaced by Benjamin Weil. Weil walked his first batter and struck out the next two, but a single, a hit by pitch, and a pick-off error proved costly. After the fifth inning the Rams led the Blazers 4-0.

The Blazers were able to get one run back in the seventh inning after junior Austin Lawrence hit a single over first base to score Chaz Bagwell from second.

However in the top of the 8th inning, the Blazers had bullpen trouble once more as Junior Jarod Carrolton replaced Weil and the Rams put up another 3 runs making the score 7-1.

The bullpen seemed to be struggling and it was frustrating for VSU Coach Greg Guilliams.

“Spencer threw exceptionally well today, but that’s the fourth game in a row where we’ve had a good start and our bullpen has just collapsed,“ Guilliams said. “Good teams have good bullpens, and right now that’s an area that’s really hurting us.”

A consolation prize came in the bottom of the ninth for the Blazers when pinch hitter, Bryant Hayman, hit a two run homer over the fence in left center, but the damage had been done already.

“Certainly it’s been very disappointing,” Guillaims said about the lack of runs to start the season. “I know it’s early, but you would hope you’d see a little more offensive production at this point than what we’ve demonstrated.”

The team will get another chance to end their losing streak when they face Florida Tech at home on Friday at 4 p.m.