ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. - Caitlyn Calhoun threw a no-hitter to start off the day, and the Valdosta State Blazers held the momentum through game two to cap day one of a four game weekend set with a pair of 7-0 victories over the hosting Flagler Saints and the Barton Bulldogs on Saturday at Flagler Field.
Valdosta State improved to 5-1 on the year after the two wins, while Flagler fell to 2-3 and Barton dropped their fifth straight and remained winless on the year.
Courtney Albritton, the reigning Gulf South Conference Player of the Week, struck again in game one with a two run shot to left field in the second inning. The homer marked the senior's third of the year and opened up a 2-0 lead for Valdosta State.
The early lead proved to be more than enough for Calhoun, who threw seven innings without allowing a hit. The junior racked up 10 strikeouts in the contest, and the only baserunner to reach base in the contest came after an early error in the infield.
Calhoun improved to 2-1 on the year, and received plenty of offensive support, as freshman
Brandy Morgan helped pad VSU's lead with two hits, two runs, and two RBI's in the game. Morgan's biggest hit of the day came in the 7th inning, when she slapped a bases-loaded single to left field to drive in two and open up a comfortable 6-0 lead for the Blazers.
Game two featured another offensive onslaught by the Blazer offense, as VSU connected for three home runs in the game. Junior transfer
Jennifer Phillips accounted for two of the round trippers and finished the day with three RBI's, while senior
Fran Johnson helped secure the victory in the fifth inning with her first career grand slam. The four-bagger pushed Johnson's RBI total to seven on the season and represented one of two hits on the day for the Blazer right fielder.
Huntyre Elling picked up the win to improve to 2-0 after the game two shutout. The junior transfer out of Indian River State finished with seven strikeouts and allowed just two hits on the day.
Action continues tomorrow in St. Augustine at Flagler Field at 2:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m., where the Blazers will square off against Flagler and Embry-Riddle. Live stats will be available for both games right here at www.vstateblazers.com.
