VALDOSTA, Ga. – Zack Bennett pitched a gem on Friday to lead the Embry-Riddle baseball team to a 4-0 win over Valdosta State on the road. In his second appearance of the season, Bennett pitched seven innings of shutout ball, striking out seven and scattering three hits to help the Eagles even their overall record at 2-2.
 
Max Kops led the Eagles at the plate once again, going 2-for-4 with a home run, three RBI and a run scored. Timo Aracena also left the park, while Noah Clymer had a 2-for-3 night with a double and a walk.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Third Inning
• Matthew Coker earned a two-out walk on six pitches from VSU starter Zac Dodson.
• The Eagles' next batter, Max Kops, took Dodson's third offering over the fence in left centerfield to give the Eagles a 2-0 lead.
 
Fifth Inning
• Valdosta State hit a lead-off double to start the fifth.
• Bennett struck out the next three batters to keep the Blazers off the board and preserve the Eagle lead.
 
Seventh Inning
• AJ Marinello led off the seventh with a double to the gap in right centerfield.
• Coker laid down a bunt toward first base that allowed Marinello to move up to third and Marinello crossed the plate on Kops' sacrifice fly.
• The Eagles' next batter was Timo Aracena and the senior hit his second homer of the season to make it a 4-0 ballgame.
 
Eighth Inning
• The Blazers had runners on the corners with one out, but Max Meyer, who entered the game in relief of Bennett to start the inning, got batters in a row to strike out looking to get out of the jam.
 
Ninth Inning
• Joey Balsam entered the game in the ninth and retired all three batters he faced via the strikeout to seal the win for the Blue & Gold.
 
UP NEXT
The Eagles and the Blazers play the second game of the series at 1 p.m. on Saturday.