AMERICUS - The Valdosta State University baseball team scored in all but one inning Wednesday evening at Hurricane Stadium and had little trouble dismantling Georgia Southwestern, 20-5.
It was the first time GSW allowed 20 runs in a game since April 19, 2008.
The Hurricanes suffered their first non-conference defeat of the spring (14-1) and saw their overall mark dip to 17-16, while Valdosta State improved to 19-11.
The Blazers pushed a run across in the first inning, but landed their first major blow in the second when seven hits led to five runs and a 6-0 lead.
Valdosta State added a run in the third and another in the fifth before posting its second five-run frame of the evening in the sixth to stretch the margin to 13.
Alex Kranick put GSW on the board in the seventh when he cleared the bases with a three-run double. Kranick scored two batters later off a Zach Barron blast over the left field wall to cap a five-run inning for the Hurricanes. GSW trailed 16-5 after the seventh and VSU added a pair of runs in both the eighth and ninth innings.
Barron finished 3-for-5 at the plate with two RBIs and a run scored. Kranick belted his 15th double of the season and turned in a 2-for-3 performance with a walk and three RBIs.
Tyler York and Clint Carr both went 4-for-5 to lead Valdosta State batters. York was walked twice, scored twice and drove in a run. Carr had a three-run triple, scored twice and drove in a total of five runners. Ryan Smith collected three hits, including a solo home run, and three RBIs.
The two sides combined to use 15 pitchers in the ballgame.
GSW trotted seven different hurlers to the hill. Starter Mitch Holloway (2-2) was tagged with the loss after running into trouble in the second inning.
VSU burned eight arms over nine innings. Relief pitcher Beau Blair (2-1) kept the Hurricanes off the board in the second and third innings.
Southwestern returns to Peach Belt Conference play this weekend with a series in Americus against Columbus State. Game 1 of the three-game set comes Friday evening at 5 p.m.
