On Friday, Feb. 14, the Union University Bulldogs split a doubleheader against Valdosta State to open conference play of the 2025 season.
The Bulldogs lost the 1 p.m. game 7-3, finding themselves down 5-0 at the end of the second, after a four-run second inning. The Bulldogs scored one run in the 5th, 6th and 7th inning to trim the lead to four runs for Valdosta State, but were unable to close the gap.
The second game, at 4 p.m. was a low scoring endeavor, with the Bulldogs coming out on top 2-1. Sophomore business major and left-handed pitcher Eli Ramsey pitched the first six innings, giving up three hits and only one run, which helped the Bulldogs stay in the game. Sophomore business major and left-handed pitcher Briant Bazydlo completed the save and gave Ramsey the win with a scoreless 7th inning.
The series was originally going to be a singular game Friday afternoon, and an additional doubleheader on Saturday, but due to weather concerns, the series shifted to a doubleheader on Friday. The game on Saturday was then delayed until Sunday afternoon, but due to poor weather and field conditions, the game was ultimately cancelled and will not be made up.
“I think the biggest thing is just figuring out what we do well and trying to play to our strengths a little better instead of playing outside ourselves,” Coach Casey McGehee said, who is starting his third season as the Bulldogs head coach. “We’ve got to play very selfless team oriented baseball rather than at times maybe leaning a little bit on the selfish side.”
“I think when we’re playing our best, I think we have the ability to play very good defense,” McGehee said.
The Bulldogs did indeed play good defense in the second game of their doubleheader on Friday, achieving a game with only one error, with Ramsey receiving no earned runs.
“Well, anytime there’s a big loss, there has to be a mental shift. We have to completely jump out of whatever was going on in the first game and then completely just reset,” Ethan Orwig said.
Orwig, a senior journalism major and relief pitcher, pitched a scoreless eighth inning in the first game of the doubleheader, with one strikeout and no walks. The Bulldogs did achieve the mental shift that Orwig mentioned, turning around and playing a clean game and winning the second game.
The Bulldogs are 5-4 so far this season, and after this weekend they sit at 1-1 in the conference. Their next game is scheduled for Feb. 18 at 4 p.m. at Fesmire Field against Lane College.