Welcome to The Doghouse, a weekly column recapping Union University sports action from the weekend.
This weekend, at Valdosta State, Union’s baseball team went 2-1, while softball went 0-3.
Baseball
Union won the first game with a final of 2-1.
The teams remained scoreless until the bottom of the sixth, when Tyler Morris hit an RBI single for Valdosta State. Union responded with a 2-RBI double from Zach Wylie.
“Both pitchers were pitching very well and it was difficult to get runners on,” Union head coach Lee Driggers said. “Both teams had a couple of opportunities in the middle of the game, and fortunately we came out on top.”
JR Miller earned the win, pithing eight innings and allowing one run on four hits with nine strikeouts. Austin Kitterman earned the save.
In game two, Union won 5-2.
In the first inning, Dylan Moore hit a two-run homer for Union. Between the third and the fourth, Ryan Slaughter and Tyler Morris each had a homerun for Valdosta State. In the fifth, David Robbins added with his own homer. In the seventh, Union’s Zach Philllips hit a sacrifice fly that scored Nolen Milton, and Ryne Roper hit an RBI single.
Teddy Christie earned the win, after allowing two runs on two hits with four walks. Marty Coursey earned the save.
In Sunday’s game, Valdosta State defeated Union 10-3.
The Blazers scored first with a two-run second. Union answered with what would be their only runs of the game, scoring on a Tyler Mauzy single as well as sacrifice flies from Moore and Phillips. Valdosta State went on to score in the fourth, sixth, and seventh innings, totaling eight runs on six hits.
“They pitched extremely well on Sunday,” Driggers said. “We had several opportunities through six innings, but couldn’t muster the offense to get it done.”
Skyler Harrison took the loss, allowing four runs on six hits with two walks, a hit batter, a wild pitch, and four strikeouts. Joe Hudson, Cooper Bullough, Kitterman and Walter Rook all came in as relief.
Union moves to 20-6 overall and 9-5 in Gulf South play.
Softball
In their first loss this weekend, softball fell 10-2.
The Lady Bulldogs scored first, as Gabby Morris homered in the second, but in the bottom of the inning, Haley Fowler hit an RBI single for Valdosta. Ashley Scott singled in the third to give Union a temporary 2-1 lead. By the end of the sixth, Valdosta State scored nine runs on seven hits. Hayley Cruthers played a prominent role, finishing with 3 RBI’s and scoring the final run, thanks to a Tana McDaniel bunt.
Morris pitched 3.2 innings and took the loss for Union, after allowing seven runs on seven hits. Parker Davis pitched relief, allowing three runs on four hits.
In the second game, Valdosta State shut out Union 5-0.
For the Lady Blazers, Chelsea Canara hit a two-run homerun in the first Brandy Morgan hit a sacrifice fly in the third, Cruthers hit an RBI single in the fifth, and Fowler hit a sacrifice fly in the sixth.
Hannah Ridolfi pitched all six innings and took the loss. Ridolfi gave up seven hits, walked three batters, had one balk, and threw five strikeouts.
Sunday, the Lady Bulldogs saw another shutout, falling 4-0.
All four runs came in the first inning for the Lady Blazers, as Canara hit a two-run homer, Cruthers launched a solo shot, and Fowler hit an RBI double.
After facing three batters and allowing three runs on two hits, Morris was pulled from the circle. Morris took the loss, Davis pitched one inning and allowed one run, and Ridolfi threw five shutout innings.
Union falls to 14-13 overall and 4-11 in conference action.
Looking Ahead
Tuesday, baseball hosts Harding University, and Thursday, softball hosts Lane College. Over the weekend, the two teams will each host West Alabama for a three-game series.