GULF SHORES, Ala. – The No. 24 Valdosta State softball team dropped a 3-2 decision to Palm Beach Atlantic and a 4-3 decision to Lubbock Christian both in eight innings in the first two games of the season Saturday.
 
Palm Beach Atlantic 3, #24 Valdosta State 2
The Blazers opened the scoring in the bottom of the first as senior Jordenne Gaten singled through the right side to begin the frame.  She then stole second and third and scored on a junior Nicole Pennington single up the middle for a 1-0 lead. 
 
VSU sophomore pitcher Samantha Richards worked out of jams in the first four innings, including two on with two out in the second inning to preserve the 1-0 score.  In the bottom of the fourth, VSU had good chance to add runs as Pennington began the frame wit ha single up the middle and then moved to third, but was stranded. 
 
PBA began the top of the fifth with a home run from Faith Allen for a 1-1 score.  A double and a walk followed as VSU made a call to the bullpen in favor of junior Shayne O'Connell for Richards.  After a ground out for the first out and a walk, VSU got a great defensive play as Magnolia West was gunned down at the plate and O'Connell got out of the jam with a strikeout. 
 
In the bottom of the fifth, VSU was able to put a runner at third, but was unable to score.  In the top of the sixth, Hayley Hass, who pinch-ran for Edmilly Molina, moved to third and attempted to steal home, but was gunned down at the plate.  It marked the second time in the game VSU had gunned down a runner at the dish. 
 
For the Blazers in the bottom of the sixth, they got two runners on base and for the third inning in a row had a runner at third, but were unable to take the lead.  VSU went down in order in the seventh, sending the game to the eighth.
 
A throwing error was costly for the Blazers in the eighth as the international tiebreaker rule was in effect placing a runner at second to begin the inning.  Maddie Biggs reached on the error, plating the run for a 2-1 PBA lead.  Two walks followed to load the bases with one out. West hit a sacrifice fly for a 3-1 lead.  O'Connell got a strikeout to end the frame.
 
The Blazers began the bottom of the frame with Gaten at second and Pennington doubled her home for a 3-2 deficit with one out.  A walk followed, but PBA starter Abbey Busby fanned sophomore Kiley Robb and senior Haley Garrett grounded out to end the game.
 
VSU had two runs on seven hits with one costly error in the game, while PBA had three runs on seven hits with no errors.  The Blazers left eight stranded in the game, while PBA left 12 on base. 
 
Pennington went 3 for 4 with two RBI and a double for the Blazers, while Gaten was 2 for 4 with two runs scored.  Richards went four innings, allowing five hits, one earned run, walked three and fanned two.  O'Connell (0-1) went four innings, allowing two hits, two unearned runs, walked four and fanned two.
 
Busby (1-0) was dominant throughout as she went the distance, allowing seven hits, two runs – one earned, walked two and fanned 12.  West went 3 for 4 for the Sailfish with an RBI and a double, while Molina was 2 for 2. 
 
Lubbock Christian 4, #24 Valdosta State 3
Just like the first game, VSU jumped out to the early lead with two runs in the first inning against the Chaps.  Gaten hit her first of two home runs in the game to begin the contest for a 1-0 lead and later in the inning senior Haley Garrett singled through the left side for an RBI and a 2-0 lead. 
 
VSU junior hurler Morgan Cushman was strong on the mound early for the red and black as she retired the Chaps in order through the first four innings after a leadoff walk in the first.  LCU put two on base in the fifth with a leadoff double and a single, but Cushman came back with a strikeout to end the threat.
 
Gaten belted her second home run of the game in the fifth for a 3-0 lead, but with two out in the top of the seventh, Angela Donaldson belted a three run home run to tie the game.  Gaten had a single in the bottom of the frame and moved to second, but that'd be all VSU was able to muster in the inning, sending the game to extras.
 
In the top of the eighth a ground out moved the runner placed at second to third and a sacrifice fly from Skylar Herrera plated the run.  VSU moved Pennington to third on a sacrifice bunt from senior Logan Hill, but LSCU reliever Maxine Valdez got a foul out and a strikeout to end the game.
 
LCU (2-0) had four runs on six hits with two errors, while VSU (0-2) had three runs on seven hits. Gaten was 3 for 4 with two RBI and two runs scored on the two dingers, while Donaldson was 1 for 1 with three RBI for the Chaps. 
 
Cushman (0-1) took the loss in eight innings, allowing six hits, four runs – three earned, walked two and fanned eight.  Valdez (1-0) took the win in three innings of relief, allowing one hit and fanned three.
 
VSU looks to rebound on Sunday as it faces No. 9 Florida Tech at 10 a.m. ET to conclude the tournament.