LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The University of West Alabama baseball team suffered a 17-3 loss to Valdosta State University in the series finale of a Gulf South Conference series, Sunday from Tartt Field. 

VSU goes to 11-9 and 6-6 in the league with the victory, while UWA falls to 11-12 and 4-8. 

After a three-up, three-down top of the first by Roe Ketchum, the Tigers got to work in the bottom half thanks to back-to-back walks by Nick Thibodeau and Cade Horton. Unfortunately, the Tigers were unable to strike first after a fly out ended the threat.

VSU had base runners all over the place in the next two innings, and they finally cashed in the first run of the game in the third with a bases-loaded walk by Jovanni Canegitta. 

In the fourth, the visitors made it a 3-0 lead with a double by Hunter Stowe, and Owen Lawn added a solo shot to push the lead to 4-0.

However, in the sixth, the Blazers sent 17 batters to the plate and scored 12 times to put the contest in run-rule effect. 

UWA did avoid the shutout with three runs in the seventh. Houston Kitterman laced an RBI base knock to center field, and Nick Thibodeau launched his fourth home run of the year with a two-run shot.

Bryce Newman and Nick Thibodeau each had two hits to pace the Tigers offense. 

Pedro Moreno and Jacob Harper each had three hits for VSU. 

West Alabama was scheduled to make the trip to Laurel, Mississippi to take on Southeastern Baptist on Tuesday for a midweek clash, but the contest was postponed to April 2 as a part of a doubleheader in Livingston. UWA will next prepare for Delta State in GSC play starting Friday from Cleveland, Mississippi.