CLEARWATER, Fla. – Behind 11 runs on nine hits, the No. 22 Valdosta State softball team blanked No. 18 Palm Beach Atlantic 11-0 in five innings Friday afternoon in the first game of the NFCA Leadoff Classic.  VSU improved to 5-0 on the year, while PBA fell to 1-3. 
 
Three different Blazers had multi-hit games as junior Jordenne Gaten led the team going 3 for 3 with two runs scored and two RBI, while junior Dream Aaron was 2 for 2 with a run scored and sophomore Ashley Biddle was 2 for 3 with a run scored, a double and two RBI. 
 
Sophomore Caylie Van Auken (3-0) scattered four hits over five innings, walking none and fanning nine for the win.  It was her third complete game of the season and second shutout.  
 
PBA's Abbey Busby (1-2) took the loss as she went just 1.2 innings, allowing seven hits, nine runs – seven earned walked one and fanned one.  Four different PBA batters had one hit each.  
 
Gaten moved into position with a single and a stolen base in the bottom of the first.  A bunt single from sophomore Kiley Robb and a walk to Aaron loaded the bases.  Junior Logan Hill reached on a throwing error, plating two runs, while junior Taylor Strickland plated a run on a ground out and the second Sailfish miscue plated the fourth run of the frame.  
 
In the bottom of the second, VSU scored seven runs, highlighted by the Biddle two RBI double and a two RBI single from Gaten.  Biddle also stole home in the frame for an 11-0 lead, which would be all the Blazers would need for the run-rule victory.
 
VSU now will face No. 2 Southern Arkansas this evening in the second game of the tournament for the Blazers.  Check back with vstateblazers.com for a complete recap of the game later this evening.