VALDOSTA, Ga. – A pair of home runs from No. 9 Valdosta State in the fifth inning sparked the Blazers to a 4-3 win over No. 2 West Florida, Sunday at Steel's Diamond in the finale of a three-game series in come-back fashion.  Junior Jordenne Gaten had a solo blast and sophomore Kiley Robb used a three run shot, highlighting the frame for the win.
 
For the Blazers, who improved to 17-7 overall and 6-5 in Gulf South Conference play, while UWF closed the weekend at 27-4 and 11-1 in league play marking the first conference loss for the Argos this season.  The win ended a season-long, four-game losing skid for VSU.
 
UWF opened the scoring in the second inning as Jacquelynne Poling hit a home run to left field for a 1-0 lead.  The Argos then took a 3-0 lead with a pair of scores in the fourth inning. 
 
In the bottom of the fifth, Gaten belted her sixth round-tripper of the season with one out and then, following the second out, junior Logan Hill began the rally with a single down the line, followed by a junior Haley Garrett single up the middle.  Robb then crushed the Tori Perkins offering for a three-run shot and a 4-3 lead for her sixth home run of the season.
 
VSU senior Kasie Johnson retired the Argos in order in the sixth and seventh innings for the win as she improved to 8-1 on the year.  Perkins suffered her first loss of the season (8-1), while junior Giovanna Watts began the game for the Blazers, going 3.2 innings, allowing four hits, three earned runs, walked one and fanned three.  Perkins went six innings, allowing eight hits, four earned runs, walked three and fanned four.
 
Gaten was 2 for 4 with a home run and a RBI for the Blazers, while Robb was 1 for 3 with a run scored and three RBI.  Five different Argos had one hit each. 
 
VSU continues at home on Tuesday at 3 p.m. in a doubleheader against Eckerd at Steel's Diamond.  Check back with vstateblazers.com for links to live stats, streaming information and more.