HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - The Valdosta State softball team scored another nail-biting victory over the North Alabama Lions with an 8-7 triumph that scored the Blazers a trip to the semifinal round of the newly adjusted single-elimination Gulf South Conference Tournament on Saturday afternoon at Charger Park in Huntsville, Ala.

The contest took a sour turn early for starter Kasie Johnson and the Valdosta State Blazers, after the Lions used four hits and a VSU error to plate four and take a 4-0 lead in the second inning. Freshman Haley Garrett helped soften the blow in the bottom half of the same frame, however, when she clubbed a low liner over the left center field wall to pull the Blazers to within two at 4-2.

For the second straight weekend, Shelby Woodard struck for a home run against Blazer pitching, as she swung for a solo shot off of reliever Kathryn Carter in the top half of the fourth. The blast extended UNA's lead to 5-2, but the bottom part of Valdosta State's lineup came up big again in the bottom of the inning with a leadoff walk by Garrett and a run-scoring double off the bat of Lacey Crandall. Three batters later, Chelsea Canara trimmed the Lions' lead to 5-4 with a clutch RBI single to left center field.

After another run scored by UNA in the top of the following inning, Tana McDaniel greeted reliever Hannah Bodenhorn with a solo homer to left center, before Jessica Mohl lifted a fly ball up into the wind and out of the ballpark for her second home run of the year. The two-run homer gave Valdosta State their first lead of the game, and Brandy Morgan struck for a towering moon-shot in the sixth to give Carter an 8-6 advantage and the cushion she would need to secure her 18th win of the season.

With the victory, Valdosta State improved to 37-16 on the year and earned a trip to Sunday's semifinal matchup against the top-seeded Alabama-Huntsville Chargers. The contest will begin at 11:00 a.m. EST, with live coverage available right here at www.vstateblazers.com.