VALDOSTA, Ga. – The No. 16 Valdosta State softball team dropped a 5-1 decision in the rubber-match of a three game series against visiting Auburn Montgomery Sunday afternoon.  VSU fell to 23-11 and 8-9 in Gulf South Conference play, while Auburn Montgomery improved to 31-9 and 11-7 in league play.
 
VSU tallied one run on five hits, but committed three errors leading to four unearned runs in the loss, while AUM tallied five runs on nine hits with one error.  VSU was led by junior Lacey Crandall who went 2 for 3, while junior Haley Garrett was 1 for 3 with the lone RBI.
 
AUM had three players with two hits each as Olivia Aycock was 2 for 4 with a run scored and a RBI as was Morgan Duschell.  On the mound, VSU sophomore Caylie Van Auken (8-4) took the loss in seven innings, allowing nine hits, five runs – one earned, walked two and fanned four, while AUM's Chanel Newcomer went seven innings, allowing five hits, one earned run, walked four and fanned two.
 
Van Auken got out of the first inning as AUM left the bags full, but the Warhawks plated two runs in the second on two hits with one error for a 2-0 lead and added a run in the third courtesy of another VSU miscue. 
 
The Blazers cut the deficit to 3-1 in the bottom of the frame as Crandall began the inning with a single and a walk put two on and Garrett singled up the middle plating the run. 
 
AUM added to its lead in the fifth with two runs and the third miscue by the Blazers on a pair of RBI singles for a 5-1 lead.  The Blazers had a great chance in the bottom of the inning as two singles began the frame, but a pair of fly outs and a fielder's choice ended the threat.  VSU went down in order in the seventh. 
 
VSU looks to rebound as it travels to Albany State on Tuesday for a doubleheader and then will be at Montevallo this coming weekend for a three-game conference series. Check back with vstateblazers.com for links to live stats and streaming of the games.