VALDOSTA, Ga. – Kiley Rusen spoiled a no-hitter and scored the game-winning run with just one swing of the bat to lead Valdosta State to a 2-0 win over Union in Gulf South Conference softball action on Sunday afternoon at Steel's Diamond at Blazer Park in Valdosta, Ga.
Facing Union ace Kelley Robey, who currently leads the GSC and stands among the top three in the nation in total strikeouts this season, the Blazers were held hitless through five innings.
Caitlyn Calhoun matched Robey, however, with five scoreless innings of her own to set the stage for a dramatic sixth inning.
Robey struck out 14 batters in the contest and allowed just two hits in a pitching duel that was decided in the sixth when Rusen stepped to the plate with one away and delivered the first hit of the game for Valdosta State, a solo shot over the right center field wall that accounted for VSU's first run of the game.
The Blazers added an insurance run later in the frame when
Chelsea Canara roped a liner into the grass in front of Union right fielder Annette Castaldo. The base hit marked the second of just two hits on the day for the Blazers and scored
Brittany Smith from second, who pinch ran for
Jennifer Phillips and stole second base after Phillips was hit by a pitch one batter earlier.
Calhoun twirled another beauty to improve her record to 20-1 and lift her season shutout total to 13. The righty reached double-digit strikeout figures for the second straight day with 10. Calhoun did not issue a walk in the game and dropped her ERA to 0.83, which placed her among the top ten pitchers in the country when measured by earned run average.
The win improved the Blazers to 34-2 overall and 19-1 in GSC play. Meanwhile, Union fell to 20-14 following the sweep and saw their conference record drop to 8-12. Valdosta State extended their current winning streak to 24 games, the program's longest since the 2012 team won 36 straight en route to a national title.
Next up for Valdosta State, it's a non-conference doubleheader against Young Harris, who comes to town to face the Blazers on Tuesday, March 31 at 3:00 p.m. Live coverage for the midweek matchup will be provided at www.vstateblazers.com.
