MILLINGTON, Tenn. — Blaine Wilson’s single in the bottom of the ninth inning plated Curtis Keegan to propel Valdosta State to a 4-3 victory over Harding in the opening round of the Gulf South Conference Tournament Saturday at USA Stadium.

With Harding leading 3-2, Sho Kohata walked with one out in the bottom of the ninth and moved to second on Glen Lemke’s pinch-hit single to right, just his second hit of the season. Jon Koenigsfeld lined a base hit through the left side of the infield to plate Kohata, tying the score.

Logan Pierce proceeded to single to center to load the bases for Wilson, who hit a shot to left-center to drive in pinch runner Curtis Keegan with the winning run.

Harding (27-22) took the lead in the eighth inning when Wisley Correa singled up the middle before being lifted for pinch-runner Charles Bradley. A sacrifice bunt moved Bradley to second, then he moved to third on a wild pitch. After a strikeout, pinch hitter Ben Rodriguez worked a 3-2 count before lining a shot up the middle to plate Bradley to give the Bison a 3-2 lead.

The Blazers (35-16-1) got on the board first, scoring an unearned run in the bottom of the second inning. Daniel Muniz singled up the middle to open the inning and two batters later, Shawn Keill walked. A passed ball moved both runners into scoring position before Kohata singled to left to score Muniz for a 1-0 VSU advantage.

Harding evened the game at 1-1 in the fourth. With one out in the frame, Correa was hit by a pitch and Tyler Thompson walked. Matt Stevens doubled to left, scoring Correa to even the game.

VSU, which entered the game as the No. 1 seed in the East Division, took advantage of wildness by HU starter Troy Keith in the bottom of the inning to regain the lead. Muniz and Chase Blackwood walked to open the frame before a Ryan Moody throwing error on a Keill sacrifice bunt loaded the bases. A Sidney Spell ground out plated Muniz, then Kohata also walked to reload the bases. But Harding escaped the inning with a double play ball.

The Bison, who earned the West’s No. 4 seed for the tournament, once again evened the contest at 2-2 in the sixth with a pair of doubles. Correa doubled to center to open the inning and moved to third on a wild pitch, then Thompson laced a double just inside the third base bag to drive in the tying run.

Blazer starter Russ Crum pitched into the fifth inning and recorded seven strikeouts while allowing two hits and a run in a no decision.

Justin Lamb surrendered two hits and the Bradley run in two innings of work to improve to 4-1 for the Blazers. Muniz led the Blazer offense with two hits and two runs in as many at-bats.

D.A. Kremer came on in the sixth for the Bison and walked two batters while surrendering four hits in four innings of work to fall to 3-4. Correa was 2-of-3 with two runs scored in the game to lead Harding offensively.

Valdosta State returns to action Sunday at 1 p.m., when it faces Montevallo, the No. 3 seed out of the East Division.