VALDOSTA, Ga. - One of the nation's biggest NCAA softball matchups is scheduled to take place this weekend at Steel's Diamond at Blazer Park, as the No. 2 ranked Blazers of Valdosta State host the No. 22 North Alabama Lions in a three-game, Gulf South Conference showdown on Saturday and Sunday.

Still unbeaten in league play, the Lions (16-1, 5-0 GSC) and their outstanding pitching staff enter the weekend as the top team in the GSC. UNA made their National Fastpitch Coaches' Association debut this week as the nation's No. 22 team and have only been defeated once overall on the year. Meanwhile, the Blazers (18-2, 7-1 GSC) have won eight straight and currently rank as the second-best team in the country.

Throughout the past two seasons, the Lions' pitching staff has driven the team to success. As a unit, the team currently holds a 1.03 ERA and is led by Hillary Carpenter, who's 0.76 represents the best in the conference. The only pitcher to have more wins than Carpenter's eight is VSU's own Caitlyn Calhoun, who leads the GSC with a 10-1 record.

Calhoun, a three-time GSC Pitcher of the Week award winner already this season, offered up the third no-hitter of her career and her second of the season on Tuesday against the visiting Florida Southern Moccassins. The effort reduced her season ERA to 1.08 and improved her shutout total to four on the year. The junior also ranks second among all GSC pitchers in total strikeouts with 87.

Valdosta State continues to be led on offense by senior Courtney Albritton, who now has 312 career hits. With three more, she will stand alone as the all-time hits leader in the Gulf South Conference. The record is 14 years old and currently belongs to Audrey Williams, who collected 314 career hits during her time with the Alabama-Huntsville Chargers from 1998-01. In addition, after two more long balls on Tuesday against Florida Southern, Albritton needs just five more to become the all-time career home-run leader in NCAA Division II Softball History.

Valdosta State is continuously recognized for their hitting prowess, but the team is no slouch on the defensive side of the ball either. The Blazers rank second in the conference in fielding percentage with a .980. Head Coach Thomas Macera's squad leads the league in putouts with 375 and have committed just 10 errors in 502 chances on the year. The only team to have fewer errors this season are this weekend's opposition, the North Alabama Lions, who have committed only six errors in 433 chances.

The entire series can be followed in its entirety at www.vstateblazers.com. Live stats will be available, as well as live video coverage for the first time this season. Saturday's first pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m., and the series finale is set to start at 1:00 on Sunday afternoon.