VALDOSTA, Ga. -- The Auburn University at Montgomery baseball team used a stellar game-one pitching performance and snatched the series opener from Valdosta State University 5-1 to help prop up a doubleheader split with the Blazers to open Gulf South Conference play. 

Clay Slagle logged six strong innings with four strikeouts en route to his first win of the season. The AUM bullpen supported Slagle's start with three shutout innings of relief as the Warhawks knocked off the Blazers, who are receiving votes in the latest NCBWA Top 25 poll.

FROM THE DUGOUT

GM 1 Score: AUM 5, RV VSU 1
GM 2 Score: AUM 0, RV VSU 5
Records: AUM 5-5 (1-1 GSC) | VSU 5-2 (1-1 GSC)
Location: Valdosta, Ga. | Billy Grant Field
Series: AUM trails 16-5
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GM 1 HIGHLIGHTS

• JC Tunnell smacked an RBI double to right center field to plate Cooper Doughman and give the Warhawks a 1-0 lead. 
• Jarren Wright added an RBI single just inside the foul line in left to make it 2-0 in the fourth frame. 
• Later in the fourth, Brendan York lined a two-run single to center to expand the AUM lead to 4-0.
• The Blazers added their lone run of the game on a solo home run in the sixth, but Zach Dew scored on a wild pitch in the ninth to help the Warhawks seal the victory.

GM 1 ON THE MOUND 

• Clay Slagle (1-1) allowed just one earned run on four hits in picking up the win. He did not issue a walk and struck out four hitters.
• Grant Hickman fired 1.2 innings of scoreless relief with a walk and a pair of strikeouts.
• Lucas Baggett allowed a couple of hits in 1.1 innings to earn the save for AUM.

GM 2 HIGHLIGHTS

• Valdosta State loaded the bases with nobody out in the first inning, but a double play helped AUM minimize the damage to a single run.
• An RBI double and a sacrifice fly in the fourth helped VSU push the lead to 3-0.
• The Blazers used a two-run homer in the fifth to seal a game-two win for the Blazers.

GM 2 ON THE MOUND 

• Payte Williams (0-1) allowed three earned runs on six hits with a strikeout in 4.2 innings. 
• Michael Myers gave up a single run in 1.1 innings of relief.

NOTABLES: 

• Tyrese Rooks added hits in both games of the day to run his hitting streak to nine games.
• Rooks also added his sixth multi-hit game of the season in game one on the day (2-for-5), while Cooper Doughman's 2-for-4 effort in game one gave him his third multi-hit game of the season.
• Slagle has given up just one run in his two starts, spanning 12 innings of work. 

WORDS FROM THE WARHAWKS 

• "A lot to learn from both games today," said head coach Franklin Bush. "Ultimately, we still have a long way to go. We will continue to chase that standard that is AUM baseball. We've got to be consistent in competing at a championship level in all three phases of the game. Today, we weren't consistent. Consistency wins. We have to find more consistency within ourselves, this team, and our program. We look forward to another opportunity tomorrow."

UP NEXT

The Warhawks close out their series with Valdosta State University on Saturday,  Feb. 17 at Billy Grant Field. The first pitch is slated for 1 p.m. CT.
   
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