HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The No. 13 Valdosta State softball team battled back from a disappointing 7-4 loss in the first game of a doubleheader for a 10-5 win in the nightcap over No. 10 Alabama Huntsville Saturday, in the first two games of a three game Gulf South Conference series. 
 
The Blazers (20-8, 7-6 GSC) hit .310  for the day with 18 hits in 58 at bats, scoring 14 runs with one double, three home runs and 12 RBI.  Senior Kasie Johnson earned the win in the nightcap to improve to 10-3 on the year, while junior Giovanna Watts took the loss in the opener.  Offensively, sophomore Kiley Robb belted two home runs and was 4 of 8 from the dish with three runs scored and five RBI to lead the team. 
 
The Chargers (25-8, 11-3 GSC) hit .316, also recording 18 hits with 12 runs scored, two doubles, three home runs and 11 RBI.  The Chargers went 3 for 4 in stolen bases, while VSU didn't attempt a theft.  VSU committed three errors and stranded 14 runners, while hitting into one double play.  The three errors led to two unearned runs.
 
In the opener VSU took the early lead in the first inning as junior Dream Aaron singled home a run for a 1-0 lead.  UAH plated three runs in the bottom of the frame with one coming on an error by the Blazers.  The Blazers had two on in the second and one runner at third, but was unable to score.  VSU then tied the game at three in the third – all with two out as Aaron was plunked by a pitch and Robb belted her first home run of the day.
 
Once again, UAH had the answer in the bottom of the inning as it plated three more runs on five hits with another miscue by the Blazers as Watts was replaced by sophomore Caylie Van Auken for the final out of the frame.  VSU then pulled within 6-4 in the sixth helped out on two miscues from the  Chargers as the run came on a muffed throw, but the second home run of the game by UAH made the score 7-4 in the bottom of the frame.  VSU was unable to get much going in the seventh.
 
For the game, VSU scored four runs on six hits with two errors, while UAH had seven runs on ten hits with two errors.  Robb was 2 for 3 with two runs scored and two RBI along with the home run, while Jada Hayes went 2 for 3 with two runs scored and four RBI to lead the Chargers.  Kiara Akles (5-1) earned the win, going 6.2 innings, allowing six hits, four runs – three earned, walked one and fanned three for UAH.  Watts (3-2) went 2.2 innings, surrendering nine hits, six runs – four earned. 
 
In the nightcap, the Blazers came back with a vengeance as they plated five runs in the second and six runs through the first three innings for a 6-0 lead, but as good teams do, UAH battled back cutting the deficit to 7-5 through five innings.  For good measure, VSU added three runs in the sixth for the final margin of 10-5.  The Blazers tallied their fifth double-digit run game of the season and tied their season-high with 12 hits in the contest to earn the split. 
 
Highlighted by Robb's three run blast in the second, VSU plated five runs on four hits for the frame and one UAH miscue led to a run for a 5-0 lead.  In the third, junior Haley Garrett got into the home run act with a solo shot for a 6-0 lead. 
 
The Chargers belted a home run for a 6-2 score in the fourth with two out and plated three runs in the fifth on a two RBI double from Akles – also with two out – and a RBI single, as Van Auken relieved Johnson for the final out of the frame and a 7-5 VSU lead. 
 
In the sixth, junior Natalia Bellinger singled home two runs and a bases loaded walk plated the third for a 10-5 advantage. UAH put two on in the bottom of the seventh, but Van Auken fanned the final batter to end the threat.
 
Robb was 2 for 5 with a run scored and three RBI in the nightcap, while Bellinger was 2 for 3 with a run scored and two RBI and junior Lacey Crandall was 1 for 2 with a run scored and two RBI as well. 
 
The teams finish the three-game series with the rubber match, scheduled for 2 p.m. ET Sunday as links to live stats and audio/video streaming can be found on vstateblazers.com on the softball schedule page.  Chris Caray will have the call of the game on 92.1 WDDQ FM.