Written by Alex Tostado

The Valdosta State (14-11) pitching staff stole the show against Albany State University (10-20) holding the Golden Rams to only one hit in a 13-0 rout Wednesday night.

VSU pitcher Jarrod Carlton got his first win of the season pitching two innings and giving up zero runs or hits.

Nonetheless it was a combined effort from seven pitchers (Mann, Watson, Carlton, Demasi, John, Weil, and White) on the night.

“Those guys (bullpen pitchers) are important because in the postseason those guys are going to have to pitch,” head coach Greg Guilliams said.  “It has to be more than just our weekend guys.”

The Blazers’ offense did its job as well, posting 13 runs on 15 hits.

VSU junior shortstop Nick Rodda had three hits in four at-bats and drove in four runs in the game.

“Nick was struggling but this last week he has been swinging the bat a lot better,” Guilliams said. “I think he is very capable of that and he was batting in the seventh hole so there were a lot of guys on base.”

Rodda did not do it by himself as second baseman Ryan McClellan also tied the game-high four runs batted in.

The Blazers had trouble stealing bases being caught three times Wednesday night.

“There are always things to get better on,” Guilliams said. “Our base running, getting some bunts down and we still walked a couple of guys but at the end of the day, we obviously did a lot of things right.”

VSU has won six of its last seven and will host rival West Georgia in a three-game series this weekend at Billy Grant Field.

Notes: Former Atlanta Brave Gregory McMichael was the guest speaker at the second annual Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Sermon on the Mound. The event took place following the game.

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