ROME, Ga – The Shorter Hawks (8-4) finished their homestand this Sunday against region rivals Valdosta State University (8-4). The Hawks went out behind senior arm Ryan Parker.

What started off looking like a pitching duel for the first two innings was eventually broken up by VSU in the top of the third. Nick Lewis hit an RBI double, added on by an RBI single from EJ Doskow, giving VSU a 2-0 lead. The Blazers continued to pour it on in the fourth inning, with Ben Rowdon driving in two runs on a single to increase their information to 4-0. The Hawks scraped by a run on the fifth inning, with Bailey Gerstner going on a passed ball. The Blazers answered back quickly in the top of the sixth, with Lewis having an RBI single. When the game started to look out of hand, Matt Christian responded with a two-run shot, cutting the lead to 5-3. Then senior Nathaniel Butterworth had an RBI double, rallying the Hawks back into the game 5-4 in the bottom of the sixth. The Blazers tacked another run with a solo shot by Collin Teegarden, giving the Blazers a little breathing room. The Hawks battled until the end, with Luis Acevedo driving in an RBI in the bottom of the ninth but left the game-tying run on third.

Coach Wes Timmons and the Hawks will return to action next weekend at home, against in-state rivals West Georgia. The first pitch is Friday, March 5th at 1 pm, with the doubleheader being on Saturday, game one starting at 11 am.