VALDOSTA, Ga. – The No. 9 Valdosta State softball team stretched its winning streak to seven games with a doubleheader sweep of visiting Mississippi College Saturday afternoon at Steel's Diamond at Blazer Park. 

On an absolutely gorgeous day for softball, the Blazers hit four home runs, including two by junior Nicole Pennington with one in each game as she was 2 for 4 with four runs scored and two RBI for the twin bill. Reigning Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Week Morgan Hill went 2 for 6 with two runs scored, one home run and three RBI.  On the mound, sophomore Samantha Richards, the GSC Pitcher of the Week, went 1-0 with a complete game victory in the opener and earned her first save of the season in the nightcap.  She allowed two hits, one unearned run, walked one and fanned 11. 
 
Pennington was named the Guardian Bank Blazer Player of the Game(s) for her efforts on Saturday.
 
The Blazers improved to 7-1 on the year and 5-0 in Gulf South Conference play, while Mississippi College fell to 3-7 and 2-3 in GSC play.  The teams will conclude the series Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.  Fans can access links to live stats, audio/video streaming, ticket information and more at vstateblazers.com on the softball schedule page.  The game also will be broadcast on 94.3 FM WJEM with Bill Malone having the call and online at foxsportsvaldosta.com.
 
#9 Valdosta State 3, Mississippi College 1 (Game One) 
VSU, who put two on base and in scoring position in the bottom of the first with a leadoff walk to freshman Morgan Hill and a great infield bunt single from sophomore Hunter Meadows.  A foul out, ground out to shortstop and a strikeout got Choctaw hurler Avery Sanders out of the jam.  VSU again put a runner at third in the second inning, but was unable to bring her home, leaving three stranded in scoring position through the first two innings.
 
The Choctaws scored in the top of the third courtesy of a Blazer miscue for the early lead.  The inning began with a single from Paige Hulin and a sacrifice bunt moved her to second.  Rayne Minor reached on a sacrifice bunt and a miscue by VSU, plating Hulin for a 1-0 score.  Richards, came back with two strikeouts looking to get out of the inning without further damage.
 
The Blazers used a two out walk to Pennington and a single to left field from senior Logan Hill putting two on with two away in the bottom of the third.  On a 3-2 count to sophomore Kiley Robb, Sanders ball sailed high for a walk loading the bases.  Freshman Aniston Gano hit a single to center field, plating two runs for a 2-1 VSU lead as it finally capitalized with runners on base.  
 
Neither team were able to do anything in the fourth, sending the game to the fifth with VSU leading 2-1.   In the bottom of the fifth, Pennington took Sanders yard with one out in the frame for a 3-1 VSU lead.  It was her second round-tripper of the season for Pennington.
 
Mississippi College used a hit batsmen, the second of the game from Richards, and a single through the left side for two on with two away in the top of the sixth.  An error on the Blazers, the second on the game, loaded the bases for the Choctaws.  Richards didn't sweat it as she threw three-straight pitches for strikes to get out of the jam for her eighth K, preserving the 3-1 lead.
 
Richards retired the Choctaws in order in the seventh as she improved to 4-1 on the year, allowing two hits, one unearned run, no walked and she fanned nine.  Sanders fell to 2-4 on the year in six innings, allowing five hits, three earned runs, walked seven and fanned three.
 
VSU tallied three runs on five hits with two errors, while MC had one run on two hits.  Five different Blazers had hits in the game as Pennington was 1 for 3 with two runs scored and an RBI on the home run.  Gano finished 1 for 2 with two RBI.
 
#9 Valdosta State 8, Mississippi College 5 (Game Two)
M. Hill was a little erratic in the top of the first, but the defense backed her up with two great plays as VSU caught the Choctaws stealing twice to get out of the threat unscathed.  The inning ended as M. Hill's pitch sailed high and wide of Blazer senior catcher Lacey Crandall.  Crandall didn't panic as she quickly gathered the ball from the backstop and flipped to M. Hill, who put the tag on Jordan LaFosse at  home for the third out.  
 
Pennington blasted her second long ball of the day in the bottom of the first with two out and a 1-0 lead.  VSU almost had a chance for more as Gano just missed a three run home run by mere inches to right field.
 
In the bottom of the second, an infield hit from freshman Taylor Macera and then everyone was safe on a fielder's choice.  M. Hill hit a comebacker up the middle plating two runs for a 3-0 lead.  M. Hill stole home as Pennington, who drew a walk, bluffed to second and M. Hill scored for a 4-0 lead.    
 
M. Hill walked the first two batters of the top of the third and senior Avery Lamb replaced her in the circle.  A single by the Choctaws and a two base error on VSU plated two runs for a 4-2 score and then McCall Lee blasted a three run home run for a 5-4 Choctaw lead.
 
Not to be outdone by the long ball, with two out in the bottom of the fourth M. Hill connected on her second home run of the season – a solo shot for a 5-5 score.  
 
Sanders relieved Barnett to begin the bottom of the fifth.  After two outs, Crandall took Sanders deep on a long at bat with a 3-2 count for an 8-5 lead.  It was Crandall's second home runs of the season and marked the third home run of the game for the Blazers and fourth in the doubleheader.  
 
A hit batsmen and a single put two on for the Choctaws in the sixth.  Richards relieved Lamb with one away in the frame.  A big strikeout from Richards go the second out, but a four pitch walk loaded the bases and Richards got out of it with a foul out as MC left the bags full.
 
MC's third pitcher Shelby Carlson retired the Blazers in order in the sixth, sending the game to the seventh with VSU leading 8-5 and the top of the order for the Choctaws.  Richards retired the Choctaws in order in the seventh for her third save of her career.
 
M. Hill finished the nightcap 2 for 3 with two runs scored and three RBI, while she pitched 2.1 innings, allowing no hits, two runs – one earned, walked four and fanned two in a no decision.  Lamb earned her first victory of the season, going three innings, allowing three hits, three earned and walked one.  Richards pitched the final 1.2 innings, walking one and fanning five.