SAINT AUGUSTINE, Fla. – The No. 24 Valdosta State softball team split a pair of games against Sunshine State Conference opponents on Friday at the Old Coast Classic, hosted by Flagler.  VSU dropped its third game by one run with a 1-0 loss to Tampa, but responded with an 8-2 win over Eckerd. 
 
The Blazers (2-3) really struggled from the dish, hitting .173 for the day on 9 of 52, while scoring eight runs with two doubles, one home run and five RBI.  On the mound, the Blazers held a 1.62 ERA in 13 innings, allowing 14 hits, three earned runs, walked two and fanned 14.  Senior Logan Hill finished the day 2 for 6 with two runs scored and double, while junior Nicole Pennington was 2 for 7 with a run scored and a home run.  
 
The opener against Tampa was a pitcher's duel as neither team garnered much offense throughout.  VSU got out of a jam in the third as the Spartans put two on, but Blazer sophomore starter Samantha Richards got the final two outs to end the threat.  
 
VSU got its first hit of the game in the fourth as Hill singled through the left side with one out.  A fielder's choice and senior Haley Garrett was gunned down at second trying to steal ended the threat. 
 
The Spartans broke through with the only run of the game in the bottom of the sixth as a walk loaded the bases with two out.  Mariah Galhouse singled through the left side on an 0-1 count for a 1-0 score.  
 
In the top of the seventh, Pennington reached on an error, but two fly outs and a ground out ended the game, marking the third-straight game in the series decided by one run.  
 
The Blazers tallied just one hit in the game by Hill as junior reliever Shayne O'Connell (1-2) took the loss, pitching the final two innings, allowing three hits, one earned run, walked one and fanned three.  Corynn Miner (2-1) earned the shutout victory, pitching seven innings, allowing the one hit, walked one and fanned four.
 
VSU got things going in the second game with five runs in the second inning in the win over Eckerd.  Sophomore Carly Joiner doubled with one out for runners at second and third and freshman Taylor Macera reached on an error on a bunt, plating the first run.  Junior Fallyn Johnson singled home a run and Pennington later belted a two run blast for a 5-0 lead.  
 
Eckerd (2-1) scored one run in the fourth, but the Blazers pushed the lead to 6-1 in the fifth.  The Tritons added a run in the sixth for a 6-2 score, but Hill began the seventh with a double and an error plated two runs for the 8-2 margin.
 
Pennington finished the game 2 for 4 with a run scored, two RBI and a home run as the only Blazer with multiple hits.  Junior Morgan Cushman (1-1) earned the win in relief of senior Avery Lamb, as Cushman went the final four innings, allowing five hits, one earned run and fanned four. 
 
The Blazers return to action with another game against Eckerd Saturday morning at 9 a.m., followed by a game against Embry-Riddle at 11:30 a.m.  VSU then will conclude the tournament Sunday at 10 a.m. versus Wingate. 
 
Check back with vstateblazers.com on the softball schedule page for links to live stats and streaming of the games.