VALDOSTA, Ga. – Behind four home runs, 14 hits and 13 runs scored, including nine runs in the fourth inning, the No. 3 Valdosta State softball team posted a 13-2 victory over visiting West Alabama Saturday afternoon in the first game of a scheduled doubleheader. The second game was postponed to Sunday at 11 a.m. due to the threat of inclement weather in Valdosta the rest of the afternoon and evening. VSU ran its winning streak to 12 games following the victory.
In the bottom of the first, junior
Nicole Pennington took a 2-2 pitch from UWA starter Kaeleigh Crutchfield to left field for her 13
th home run to tie the national lead in home runs and a 1-0 lead in the game. It was the first home run Crutchfield had allowed all season.
The home run trend continued for the Blazers in the bottom of the second as senior
Lacey Crandall took Crutchfield yard to left field for a 2-0 score and Crandall's fifth round-tripper of the season. UWA got a double play to get out of the inning with just the one run allowed.
An error on the Blazers began the top of the third for UWA. A ground out to third got the first out, but Kelsie Gilliam moved to third on the play. VSU sophomore pitcher
Samantha Richards came up with her fourth strikeout of the game for the second out. A single up the middle from Kacy Noland plated Gilliam for a 2-1 VSU lead.
VSU (23-3, 17-2 GSC) added to its lead in the bottom of the third with the third home run of the game – a two run shot from freshman
Aniston Gano, for her seventh home run of the season. It gave VSU a 4-1 lead and chased Crutchfield from the game. The Blazers entered the weekend leading the nation in home runs with 50.
A hit batter and two stolen bases from pinch-runner Mary Grace Sheffield moved her to third with one out. Chrissy Tubbs singled to center, plating Sheffield for a 4-2 score in the top of the fourth. The second error of the game on VSU didn't prove costly as Pennington, who plays shortstop, chased Gilliam back to first tagging her before the run scored from third for the final out. UWA (13-16, 9-14 GSC) tried to induce the run down at the corners and steal a run.
The big inning came in the bottom of the fourth as Crandall belted her second of the game for a 5-2 lead. An infield single from sophomore
Hunter Meadows followed an out and she swiped second base for a runner in scoring position for the top of the order. Freshman
Morgan Hill belted an RBI triple down the right field line for a 6-2 score. It was her first three-bagger of the season. Pennington followed with an RBI single up the middle for a 7-2 lead as UWA made its second call to the bullpen in favor of Hannah Mynard replacing Kat Burks. It was Pennington's third hit of the game. Gano singled up the middle for an 8-2 score and advanced to second on the throw to the plate. A walk loaded the bases for Crandall who hit a comebacker to center for a 9-2 score. Freshman pinch-hitter
Taylor Lewis singled to third for a 10-2 score. Sophomore
Hunter Meadows was the 12
th batter of the inning and singled up the middle for an RBI and an 11-2 lead chasing Mynard from the game. M. Hill singled to left center, plating two more runs for a 13-2 score. UWA center fielder Cassie Matlock made a shoestring catch in center ending the frame as VSU scored a season-high nine runs in the inning. A season-high 14 players came to the plate in the frame.
Richards retired the Tigers in the top of the fifth to improve to 15-2 on the year. She went all five innings, allowing four hits, two runs – one earned, walked none and fanned six.
Pennington and Crandall each had three hits and Crandall went 3 for 3 with three RBI and three runs scored with two home runs. Pennington was 3 for 4 with three runs scored, a home run and two RBI. Gano was 2 for 2 with two runs scored and three RBI. Meadows went 3 for 3 with a run scored and a RBI. The Blazers hit four home runs in the game and M. Hill recorded a triple.
Tubbs went 2 for 2 with an RBI for the Tigers. Crutchfield (3-1) took the loss, going 2.2 innings, allowing five hits, four earned runs, walked two and fanned one.
