VSU moves on in GSC tourney

Staff Reports

May 06, 2008 12:00 am

— MILLINGTON, Tenn. — Glen Lemke struck out a career-high 13 batters to lead Valdosta State to a 5-1 victory over West Alabama in an elimination game at the Gulf South Conference baseball tournament Monday at USA Stadium.
Lemke (10-3) registered just three 1-2-3 innings Monday, but two came over the course of the last two innings, as he retired the final seven batters he faced. His complete game effort was just the second of the season by a Blazer, and the first since he pitched all seven innings in a 3-2 loss to Tampa on February 24.
He surrendered six hits and walked four batters in the game, while throwing 141 pitches.
Sho Kohata got Valdosta State (36-17-1) out to an early lead with a solo home run, his third of the season, with one out in the top of the first inning to put the Blazers in front, 1-0.
The Blazers upped their advantage to 2-0 with a run in the second. Jon Koenigsfeld singled to open the frame, stole second and came home on Sidney Spell’s two-out single up the middle.
West Alabama (45-11) struck back for a run in the bottom of the inning. Matt Busbee doubled to open the Tiger half of the inning and came around to score two batters later on Chris Ransburgh’s RBI single to center, cutting the VSU advantage to 2-1.
VSU pushed its advantage to four runs in the seventh, taking advantage of a pair of walks by UWA reliever Kasey Nafzger. With one out in the seventh, Nafzger issued a free pass to Calem Ray before surrendering a bunt single to Logan Pierce.
Kohata loaded the bases with a walk, then Blaine Wilson drove in Ray with a sacrifice fly. A wild pitch moved both runners up a base, then Daniel Muniz laced a 1-2 pitch into center, scoring Pierce and Kohata to give Valdosta State a 5-1 advantage.
Pierce and Muniz had two hits each for the Blazers on the day, while Kohata, Koenigsfeld and Spell finished with one each.
Matt Hill (5-2) took the loss for West Alabama. He surrendered five hits and two runs in six innings of work. Jake DeRoy led the Tiger offense with two hits.
Valdosta State awaits the winner of Monday’s final two games for its Tuesday opponent and game time.