VALDOSTA, Ga. – Valdosta State junior Logan Hill belted two home runs, including a grand slam as the No. 16 Blazers swept a doubleheader from visiting Albany State, 9-3 and 4-0 Tuesday at Steel's Diamond.  VSU improved to 32-12 on the year, while ASU fell to 16-29. 
 
#16 Valdosta State 9, Albany State 3 (Game 1)
The Blazers loaded the bases in the bottom of the first inning courtesy of a walk, single and a fielding error.  Junior Logan Hill her fifth home run of the season for a grand slam and a 4-0 lead.  In the bottom of the fourth, junior Natalia Bellinger stole home with two out for a 5-0 lead.
 
In the top of the fifth with two out, Mikiayah Harris doubled home a run for a 5-1 score.  Lavette Tucker took a 0-1 count to left field for her seventh home run of the season and a 5-3 VSU lead.  VSU senior Kasie Johnson fanned the side in the top of the sixth for seven strikeouts in the game, giving her 126 for the season. 
 
Freshman Carly Joiner and junior Haley Garrett began the bottom of the sixth with singles and sophomore Fallyn Johnson tallied her third hit of the game with a bunt single to load the bases.  Redshirt freshman Kiley Robb, on the tenth pitch of the at bat, drew a bases loaded walk for a 6-3 score.  Junior Taylor Strickland singled to left center, plating two runs for an 8-3 score.  Hill singled to left for a RBI and 9-3 score.
 
For the opener, VSU tallied nine runs on nine hits with one error, while ASU had three runs on five hits with one error.  F. Johnson was 3 of 4 with two runs scored, while Hill was 2 for 2 with a run scored and five RBI.  Harris was 2 for 3 with a run scored and a RBI for the Golden Rams, while Tucker was 1 for 3 with a run scored and two RBI. 
 
K. Johnson tossed a complete game, five hitter, allowing three earned runs, while striking out eight with no walks to improve to 14-4 on the year. 
 
#16 Valdosta State 4, Albany State 0 (Game 2)
 
Bellinger reached on an error and then scored on a heads up play from second on a fly out to right, scoring for a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning.  In the bottom of the fourth with one out, Hill belted her second home run of the day for a 3-0 lead.  The round-tripper gave everyone in attendance a coupon for a free Zaxby's Nibbler from Zaxby's as it was in the Zaxby's Home Run Inning. 
 
ASU hit three-straight singles to left field to load the bases in the top of the sixth with one out.  Sophomore Caylie Van Auken came back with her tenth strikeout of the game for two away and fanned Glory Seay for the third out to get out of the jam as the Golden Rams left the bags full.
 
VSU added a run in the bottom of the sixth on an error by the Golden Rams for a 4-0 lead.  Van Auken tallied her first walk of the game with two out in the top of the seventh.  She came back with a ground out to first for the winner as she improved to 14-4 on the year. 
 
Van Auken went all seven innings, allowing five hits, walked one and fanned 12 for the win.  Hill was 2 for 3 with two RBI and two runs scored as she finished the day 4 of 5 from the dish with three runs scored, two home runs and seven RBI, while stealing one base and recording 12 putouts. 
 
The Blazers return to action on Apr. 27-28 for Senior Weekend as they close the regular season hosting rival West Georgia at Steel's Diamond.  Check back with vstateblazers.com for a preview of the series and links to live stats and audio/video.