ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Valdosta State Blazer softball team outscored Tampa 17-5 over the course of two games to pick up a doubleheader sweep over the Spartans in South Regional action on Saturday afternoon in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Taylor Hartenbach opened up the top of the first inning with a bang, as she slugged her fifth homer of the season over the right center field wall to put VSU on top 1-0. Freshman Cassey Cornelius doubled one batter later, and Logan Hill promptly brought her in with a follow-up single.

Valdosta State was held scoreless at the plate through the seventh, which allowed Tampa to tie the game up in the bottom of the seventh on a pair of hits. Pitcher Kathryn Carter, limited the Spartans to the single run, however, and the Blazers used homers by both Jessica Mohl and Brandy Morgan in the top of the ninth to run away with the win. Carter went the distance for VSU in the game and scattered eight Tampa hits over each of her nine innings of work. Of the two runs she allowed, only one was earned.

In game two, the Blazers used ten hits to rack up 11 runs and end the game in just five innings. Mohl and Danielle Patterson teamed up for three RBI's each, and both Patterson and Ashtin Strickland delivered triples in the game.

Avery Lamb, who gave the Blazers 2.1 innings of relief in the circle, benefited from VSU's nine runs in the final two innings to pick up her second win of the season.

Valdosta State improved to 7-1 with the two wins, while Tampa fell to 2-4 on the season.

The Lady Blazers return to action on Sunday for a doubleheader against Eckerd in St. Petersburg. Game one is set to begin at 1:00 p.m.