Submitted PhotoA Valdosta State baseball player swings at a pitch Wednesday against Albany State at Billy Grant Field.

VALDOSTA, Ga. — The Valdosta State baseball team made quick work of Albany State on opening day with a dominant 17-4 non-conference win over the Golden Rams of Albany State at Billy Grant Field on Wednesday afternoon.

Head coach Greg Guilliams was afforded an opportunity to give several players a look in the lopsided win, and the team responded favorably, with 11 different players reaching base safely in the contest.

The heart of the Blazers’ order teamed up to deliver the most damage on offense, accounting for seven of VSU’s 17 scored runs. Shortstop Ryan Slaughter ignited the team in the three-hole and led the team in runs scored with three, while cleanup hitter Luke Suchon had a perfect 2-for-2 day at the plate. Chipper Andzel rounded out the mid-lineup surge with two runs scored and three RBI’s.

After Blazer starter Max Abramson blanked the Golden Rams in the top half of the first inning, Valdosta State used an infield single by Slaughter to score Kendall Herron , who reached earlier in the frame on an error and promptly moved into scoring position with his first stolen base of the season. The run sparked a big first inning, during which the Blazers scored five runs on just one hit, thanks to three miscues by the Albany State defense.

The five runs proved to be enough for VSU on the afternoon, but by the end of a six-run sixth, the Blazers had left no room for doubt. The inning was the highlight of the night for Valdosta State, as the Blazers racked up six hits, including back-to-back doubles by David Wortham and Clint Carr . The duo’s pair of extra base hits accounted for half of the inning’s runs.

Valdosta State’s defense remained sharp throughout the afternoon and complemented a host of solid, albeit brief, appearances by six different pitchers. Tristan Cone delivered the day’s top outing on the hill after coming on in relief during the third. The lefty out of Soperton, Ga. dealt for 2.2 innings midway through the game and struck out five of the nine batters he faced. Cone was credited with the win, which resulted in a 1-0 start to the freshman’s career at the collegiate level.

The victory kicked off the Blazers’ 2017 campaign at 1-0, while the Golden Rams fell to an early 0-1 start on the season.

Valdosta State’s next matchup will take place on the road against Armstrong State on Saturday at 6 p.m. in Daytona Beach, Fla. The showdown will represent the first of a three-game weekend for the Blazers.