Baseball | 2/8/2004 4:16:00 PM

Box Score VALDOSTA – The Barry University baseball team took the third and final game of a weekend series against Valdosta State knocking off the Blazers 8-2 earlier today at Billy Grant Field.

The Bucs (2-2) jumped out in front right away in the top of the first when Alex Meneses drew a leadoff walk, stole second and went to third shortly thereafter on a base hit through the left-side of the infield by Brian Lima. Cesar Aranguren then grounded into a double play allowing Meneses to cross the plate putting the Bucs on out in front 1-0.

The Bucs then added another run in the third after Meneses, Lima and Aranguren all singled to load the bases with nobody out and the heart of the Buccaneer lineup stepping to the plate. After a pop-up to short and a strikeout, Ricky Sanchez came through delivering a two-out single plating Meneses and giving the Bucs a 2-0 cushion. Lima also tried to score on the play, however was gunned down at the plate by Valdosta's David Lewis ending the inning.

The Bucs added another run in the fourth on an RBI single by Meneses that scored Nick Corbeil from second-base. Corbeil reached base after being hit by a pitch and later stole second on a delayed steal.

Valdosta (3-1) finally got on the board in sixth. With the bases loaded Robert Morgan, who had lined into and inning ending double play in the third, stroked a two-out two-run double down the left-field that brought home two Blazers base-runners cutting the Bucs lead to 3-2.

The Bucs then added insurance runs in both the seventh and ninth innings on two RBI's singles by Sanchez and one by Jerry Thornton, while Meneses put the final nail in the coffin with a two run single with two out in the ninth extending the lead to 8-2.

On the mound for the Bucs, Alex Gonzalez was stellar pitching nine complete surrendering just two earned runs, while striking out eight and walking just four. The win brings Gonzalez's record to 2-0 on the year. Parks Robinson took the loss for Valdosta.

Meneses was the Bucs top offensive player going 4 for 5 with 3 RBI's on the day. Sanchez finished with 3 hits and three RBI's and Thornton also recorded three hits.

The Bucs return to action on Tuesday night when they host Lynn at 6:00 pm at Feinbloom Field.

Barry 8, Valdosta State 2 (02/08/2004 at Valdosta, Ga.)
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Barry............... 101 100 104 - 8 17 1 (2-2)
Valdosta State...... 000 020 000 - 2 8 0 (3-1)
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Pitchers: Barry - Gonzalez. Valdosta State - Robinson; Parkman(5); Kent(9).
Win-Gonzalez(2-0) Loss-Robinson(0-1) T-2:40 A-224
Game: BB208