VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Embry-Riddle baseball team completed the series sweep of Valdosta State in dominant fashion on Sunday. The Eagles used a 17-hit attack in the seven-inning game to defeat the Blazers 17-5 and they outscored Valdosta State 31-8 in the three-game series.
 
The Eagles showcased power in Sunday's win, chasing reigning NCBWA National Pitcher of the Week Drake LaRoche after two innings. The Blue and Gold totaled nine extra-base hits, including four home runs, the most home runs in a single game by the Eagles since February 10, 2018.
 
Max Kops was 3-for-5 with a home run, a double, four RBI and two runs scored, while Timo Aracena matched Kops' RBI and home run totals with a 2-for-4 day at the plate. AJ Marinello got on base in five of his six plate appearances, going 2-for-3 with a home run, three walks and a hit-by-pitch. Robert Post and Noah Clymer each had a home run, two hits and two RBI.
 
Gunnar Harrison picked up the win for the Blue and Gold, with three strikeouts in 2.2 innings of relief.
 
RECORDS
Embry-Riddle: 4-2
Valdosta State: 1-5
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Inning
• The Eagles sent eight hitters to the plate in the first inning.
• Marinello picked up where he left off on Saturday, sending a towering shot over the fence in left field in his first at-bat of the game.
• Aracena started a two-out rally with a single through the right side.
• Following a Clymer walk, a Post single scored Aracena and Malachi Peña belted a double down the left field line to score Clymer and give the Eagles a 3-0 lead.
• The Blazers used two hits, a walk and a hit batter to score two runs in the bottom of the inning.
 
Second Inning
• The Eagle hitters were tough with two outs again in the second.
• Kops hit a double to right center field to put runners on second and third.
• Aracena stepped up to the plate and sent his second jack of the series over the right field fence to plate three more Eagle runs.
 
Third Inning
• Post greeted VSU reliever JJ Flinn with an opposite field homer in the first at-bat of the inning.
• Elias Campbell singled to right and moved up to second on a failed pick-off attempt by Flinn.
• Matthew Coker's single up the middle sent Campbell across the plate.
 
Fifth Inning
• Peña reached on an error to start the third and came around to score on a Coker single that loaded the bases.
• The Blazers made another pitching change, but Kops hit a two-RBI single up the middle to wrap up a three-run, three-hit fifth for the Eagles.
 
Sixth Inning
• The Eagles had another big inning in the sixth, scoring six runs on just four hits.
• A hit batter, a single and a walk loaded the bases for Coker.
• Coker walked to send one run across and a Kops double drove in a pair.
• After Coker scored on a ground out to second, Clymer hit his first home run of the season to add two runs to the tally and make the score 17-3.
• Cole Turner entered the game with bases loaded and after walking in a run, he got one batter to strikeout and the next to ground into a double play to end the threat.
 
Seventh Inning
• The Blazers were able to manufacture a run in the bottom half of the inning before the game was called.
 
UP NEXT
The Eagles will play their first home game of the season at 5 p.m. on Feb. 18, hosting Edward Waters at Sliwa Stadium.