CLEARWATER, Fla. – The No. 22 Valdosta State softball team scored six runs over the final four innings in a 6-0 shutout of No. 19 Lenoir-Rhyne in the third game of the NFCA Leadoff Classic.  VSU sophomore hurler Caylie Van Auken allowed three hits and fanned nine in the victory.
 
For the seventh game in a row, VSU didn't walk a batter as Van Auken improved to 4-0 on the year and posted nine K's for the second time on the weekend matching her season-high.  She held Lenoir-Rhyne without a hit over the final three innings. 
 
VSU didn't collect its first hit of the game until the fourth inning when it left two stranded.  Junior Taylor Strickland notched the first hit of the game for the Blazers in the frame, but LR starter Emily Kenley came up with one of her five strikeouts to end the threat.
 
In the fifth, the Blazers got things started as junior Logan Hill doubled down the left field line to begin the frame and a sacrifice bunt moved her to third.  Sophomore Kiley Robb doubled home two runs and sophomore Ashley Biddle singled up the middle for a RBI and a 3-0 lead. 
 
Strickland began the sixth with her second hit of the game on a double to left center and a bunt single by junior Natalia Bellinger followed, chasing Kenley from the game.  A double steal by Strickland and Bellinger plated Strickland for a 4-0 lead and junior Haley followed with a bunt single for a score for a 5-0 lead.  Bellinger then hit a sacrifice fly for a 6-0 lead in the seventh. 
 
For the game, VSU tallied six runs on eight hits with two errors, while Lenoir-Rhyne had three hits and two miscues leading to four unearned runs.  Kenley (1-2) took the loss in 5.1 innings, allowing seven hits, five runs – two earned, walked one and fanned five. 
 
Robb finished 1 for 4 with two RBI and a run scored, while Strickland was 2 for 4 with a run scored.  VSU notched its third shutout of a ranked team on the weekend and its fourth shutout of the season.  The Blazers have fanned 58 on the year with no walks and have a 0.62 ERA through seven games.
 
VSU returns to action later this afternoon as it faces Azusa Pacific (1-3) with a scheduled start time of 4:30 p.m.  Check back with vstateblazers.com for a complete recap of the game later this evening.