MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The No. 25 Valdosta State softball team belted three home runs, including a grand slam as it battled back for a split at Auburn Montgomery on Saturday.  AUM jumped out to a 5-0 lead for a 5-3 win in the opener, while VSU responded in kind with a 7-0 start in the nightcap and a 7-1 win.  
 
The Lady Blazers (9-4, 4-1 GSC) and the Warhawks (8-3, 3-2 GSC), will play the rubber-match in the three-game series Sunday at 2 p.m. ET.  
 
The Lady Blazers put two on in the top of the first of the opener on a single and a walk, but were unable to score.  A single and a hit batsmen put two on for the Warhawks in the bottom of the inning and a sacrifice bunt moved them into scoring position.  VSU sophomore hurler Samantha Richards got the second out of the inning on a 3-2 count lineout and then rung up the final out to get out of the jam.  In the bottom of the second, AUM put runners on second and third with nobody out, but Richards and the Blazers got out of the jam with a ground out and a double play to preserve the scoreless tie.  
 
The Warhawks broke through in the bottom of the third with an infield single, and an RBI double, while a Blazer miscue plated the second run of the frame.  AUM added a run in the fourth on a home run and a two in the fifth on a pair of RBI singles.
 
VSU senior Lacey Crandall belted a three-run blast in the top of the sixth inning as a pair of walks began the frame, prior to Crandall's first home run of the season.  AUM freshman starter Alanna Goble retired the Blazers in order in the seventh for the 5-3 win.
 
The Blazers had three runs on two hits and one error, while AUM had five runs on eight hits.  Richards (2-1) took the loss in four innings, allowing six hits, three runs – two earned, walked one and fanned two.  Goble (4-1) went seven innings, allowing two hits, three earned runs, walked five and fanned six.  
 
VSU responded well in the nightcap to earn the split as it jumped out to a 7-0 lead with a run in the second and six runs in the fourth.  Reigning GSC Player of the Week, sophomore Kiley Robb, began the top of the second with a solo home run to left for her fifth home run of the season. Crandall began the fourth with a double to left field and freshman Taylor Macera drew a bases loaded walk for the first run of the frame.  Later in the inning, senior Logan Hill blasted her sixth home run of the season – a grand slam for a 7-0 lead.
 
AUM plated a run in the bottom of the seventh with an infield single.  VSU junior Shayne O'Connell went all seven innings, allowing five hits, one earned run, walked seven and fanned 11 in the game.  Hill went 2 for 4 with a run scored and four RBI, while Crandall was 3 for 4 with a run scored.  Crandall was a team-best 4 of 7 from the dish with two runs scored, one double, one home run and three RBI, while Hill was 2 for 5 with a run scored, a grand slam and four RBI on the day.