VALDOSTA, Ga. – The No. 10 Valdosta State softball team is scheduled to open Gulf South Conference play this weekend with a three-game series at Shorter.  Saturday's doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m., followed by a 1 p.m. single game on Sunday.
 
Fans can access links to live stats of the games online at vstateblazers.com on the softball schedule page.  Check back with the site for a complete recap of the series each day.
 
VSU is 2-1 on the year following the Flagler Invitational Feb. 5-6.  The Blazers dropped a 1-0 decision in the opener to Flagler and responded with a 9-1 win over Ursuline and a 7-1 victory over Georgia Southwestern.  The final game of the tournament for the Blazers, against Ursuline for the second meeting, was cancelled due to rain.  The Blazers had their doubleheader at Miles College this past Sunday cancelled due to inclement weather.
 
The Blazers hit .302 for the weekend with 26 hits, 16 runs scored, seven doubles and one home run, while driving in 16.  The team slugged .419 and reached base at a .355 clip with six walks.  VSU was 7 for 7 on the base paths. 
 
Individually, senior Logan Hill went 4 for 10 from the field with two runs scored, one double and three RBI.  Three different Blazers had three hits each, while senior Lacey Crandall had the lone home run.  Junior Baylee Everson, freshman Morgan Hill and sophomore Hunter Meadows each were 2 for 2 in stolen bases to lead the team. 
 
In the circle, sophomore Samantha Richards went 1-1 with a 1.08 ERA in two complete game starts.  She pitched 13 innings, allowing eight hits, two earned runs, walked three and fanned 12, while M. Hill was 1-0 with a 1.17 ERA in one complete game, going six innings.  She allowed two hits, one earned run, walked two and fanned six.
 
VSU moved up two spots in the NFCA Top 25 this week without playing as it is now tenth and the third highest ranked team in the South Region.  Saint Leo is sixth this week while Rollins is eighth.  Alabama Huntsville moved up from 20^th to 17^th this week, while Tampa is 22^nd.  Saint Leo, Rollins and Tampa have yet to begin their seasons.
 
Shorter enters the week with a 2-2 record and also has not played since Feb. 6.  The Hawks lost 5-0 to Harding, downed Miles College 10-6 and Kentucky Wesleyan 6-4, before losing 9-8 to Delta State in a tournament in Huntsville, Ala. 
 
For the season, the Hawks are hitting .313 on 36 of 115, scoring 24 runs with nine doubles, three triples, one home run and 24 RBI.  The team is slugging .470 and reaching base at a .369 clip with 10 walks.  SU is 3 for 3 in stolen bases and have committed seven errors for a .940 fielding percentage.  Carlee is hitting .417 for the season on 5 of 12 from the dish with two runs scored, two doubles and four RBI.  Kaylee Combs is hitting .385 with five hits in 13 at bats, one run scored, two doubles, one home run and four RBI, while Sydney Poston also has five hits with two doubles, four RBI and a team-high four runs scored.
 
In the circle, the team boasts a 3.77 ERA in 26 innings.  The team has allowed 38 hits, 24 runs – 14 earned, walked 28 and fanned 10 as teams are hitting .328 against it.  Individually, Madison Pettigrew is 1-0 with a 5.60 ERA in a team-high ten innings of work.  She has allowed 12 hits, eight earned runs, walked 19 and fanned five.  Courtney Pinkston has a team-best 1.24 ERA in two appearances for 5.2 innings, while Graham is 1-0 with a 1.40 ERA in five innings.
 
Following the series with Shorter, the Blazers return home for the 2021 home-opening series Feb. 27-28, at Steel's Diamond at Blazer Park versus Mississippi College.  Game times are 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. for Saturday's doubleheader and Sunday's single game is set for a 1 p.m. first pitch.