PENSACOLA, Fla. –  A strong relief pitching performance from Valdosta State sophomore Caylie Van Auken helped VSU hold off Union, 4-3, in an elimination game Saturday morning at the 2019 Gulf South Conference Championship. 
 
VSU (35-15) now will play top-seeded West Florida at approximately 2 p.m. ET Saturday afternoon.  VSU scored four runs on eight hits with three errors, while Union (30-25) finished its season with three runs on nine hits. 
 
In the top of the first, VSU used a one out single from sophomore Fallyn Johnson and then junior Logan Hill blasted a two run home run to left center for her seventh blast of the season and a 2-0 lead.  Later in the frame, junior Lacey Crandall doubled to left center, plating redshirt freshman Kiley Robb for a 3-0 lead.
 
In the bottom of the second, Gabby Morris began the inning with a home run to right field and then a single and fielding error by the Blazers put Sarah Smith at third.  Sam McDaniel reached on the second error of the inning, plating Smith for a 3-2 score.  VSU made a pitching change as junior Avery Lamb replaced senior starter Kasie Johnson as Union loaded the bases, but Lamb came up with a fly out to right field to end the threat.
 
VSU stranded two runners in the third and one in the fourth, while Union tied the game in the bottom of the fourth as McDaniel began the inning with a double to right center and then scored on a fielder's choice RBI for a 3-3 score.  VSU sophomore Caylie Van Auken replaced Lamb as the game stayed tied through four innings.  Van Auken pitched 12 innings before today's game in the first two games of the tournament for the Blazers.   
 
In the fifth, junior Taylor Strickland tripled down the right field line and then scored on a ground out from Crandall as VSU regained the lead, 4-3.
 
A single by McDaniel through the left side began the bottom of the sixth for Union.  VSU got the first out with a pop up to first base on a failed sacrifice bunt attempt.  Van Auken fanned Peyton Mathis for the second out and a ground out ended the inning sending the game to the seventh. 
 
VSU put a runner on in the top of the seventh, but was unable to score sending Union to its final at bat with Nos. 2-4 scheduled to bat.  A soft hit in to right field put the tying run at first base with nobody out.  Union's power hitter Kaitlyn Kelley put down the sacrifice bunt moving the tying run into scoring position.  Haley Barnette laced a double to the fence, but Alyssa Ward tried to tie the game.  She was gunned down at the plate for the big second out.  Morris served as the last chance for the Bulldogs and, on a 1-2 count, a roller to Van Auken for the third out ended the game as VSU won 4-3.
 
Van Auken (16-5) pitched the final 3.2 innings, allowing four hits and fanning four.  K. Johnson went 1.1 innings, allowing three hits, two runs – one earned, walked one and fanned one, while Lamb went two innings, surrendering two hits, one unearned run and one strikeout. 
 
Morris went 0.1 innings for the Bulldogs, allowing two hits, three earned runs and one walk, while Parker Davis (12-10) went 6.2 innings, allowing six hits, one earned run, walked one and fanned four a she kept Union in the game after the 3-0 start by VSU. 
 
Hill's blast was her only hit of the game, while Strickland went 1 for 2 with the winning run.