ROME, Ga. – Behind a no-hitter from sophomore pitcher Samantha Richards, the No. 10 Valdosta State softball team opened a Gulf South Conference doubleheader at Shorter with an 11-0 victory in five innings Saturday afternoon. The Blazers plated eight runs in the top of the fifth for their second run-rule game of the season.  Game two of the doubleheader was in progress as of this story.

Richards improved to 2-1 on the year as she retired the first seven Hawks she faced and the final seven. She walked one batter in the third inning and fanned three in the contest.  It was her second no-hitter of her career as she tallied her first last season, a perfect game, in an 8-0 win over Flagler in the final game of the 2020 season on Mar. 11, before the season was suspended two days later due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.  Richards was named the Guardian Bank Blazer Player of the Game for her no-hit effort Saturday.

VSU won its 1,200th game in program history with the victory, improving to 1,200-626-2 all-time since the program's inception in 1987.  
 
The Blazers (3-1, 1-0 GSC) opened the scoring in the top of the first inning as freshman Morgan Hill stole home for a 1-0 lead.  In the third, VSU added two more runs for a 3-0 lead as freshman Taylor Macera hit a two RBI single to center.  Shorter's Anslee Anderson drew a 3-2 walk on an eight pitch at bat for the lone base runner.  She then was out on the base path for the final out of the inning. 
 
VSU plated eight runs on four hits with one error as it batted around in the frame to earn the run-rule victory.  VSU sophomore Hunter Meadows reached on an error and stole second to begin the inning.  Senior Logan Hill singled, plating Meadows for the first run.  Senior Lacey Crandall drew a bases loaded walk and junior Baylee Everson and M. Hill both singled home runs.  Following the second out of the inning, VSU had a string of seven-straight reach base with four walks a single and a bases-clearing, three RBI double from junior Nicole Pennington for the 11-0 score. 
 
VSU's other run-rule game this season came in six innings in a 9-1 victory over Ursuline (Ohio) on Feb. 5 at Flagler College. 
 
For the game, VSU tallied a season-high 11 runs, while collecting seven hits and no errors.  Richards faced the minimum 15 batters in the game and threw 56 pitches.  M. Hill led the team, going 3 for 4 with two runs scored and an RBI as the only Blazer with a multi-hit game.  Pennington had the three RBI on her double as the only player with an extra-base hit in the game. 
 
Check back later this afternoon for a recap of the second game of the doubleheader.  The teams will conclude the three-game series Sunday with a 1 p.m. first pitch.