VALDOSTA - Georgia Southwestern starting pitcher Matthew Suggs held Valdosta State to a pair of runs over 6 2/3 innings in a quality start that went unrewarded as the Hurricanes dropped a 2-0 midweek decision to the Blazers at Billy Grant Field.

GSW opened with a solid first inning as a one-out single by John Duran followed by a Michel Coffey double left the Hurricanes with two runners in scoring position. Both men would be stranded, however, as VSU starter Steven Groves settled down and retired the next two hitters. 

Groves didn't stop there. He retired 15 of the next 17 GSW batters and would have had five-consecutive 1-2-3 innings if it wasn't for a pair of errors.

The Hurricanes committed only one error in the game, but it was a costly one as a two-out throwing error in the third inning led to the Blazers' first run.

Gabby Ramirez singled for the 'Canes to open the seventh inning. With one out, Randall Sheffield was walked to put the tying run at second but back-to-back ground outs ended GSW's scoring threat.

VSU (4-4) added a run in the seventh on a Brent Nelson RBI single.

Suggs (0-1) struck out six and walked one. He surrendered one earned run and held VSU to four hits. Justin Lott and Gray Carden combined for 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.

Groves (1-0) held GSW to three hits in six innings of work. He struck out five and did not walk a batter. Benjamin Weil tossed the final three innings to earn his second save of the spring.

Neither team had a batter finish with multiple hits.

GSW (1-6) continues its seven-game road trip on Saturday with a 1 p.m. Peach Belt Conference doubleheader at UNC Pembroke.