HUNTSVILLE, Ala. –  The No. 2 Valdosta State softball team battled back from a 3-0 deficit, plating three runs the sixth and seventh innings, but the No. 18 Alabama Huntsville hit a pinch-hit, RBI single with two out in the bottom of the seventh for a 4-3 victory in the first game of a doubleheader.
 
The loss ended VSU's 21-game winning streak dating back to Mar. 14 in a 13-2 victory over Union in Valdosta.  VSU fell to 32-4 on the year and 25-3 in GSC play, while UAH improved to 28-10 and 21-7 in Gulf South Conference play.  VSU still needs just one victory in the series to clinch the top seed in next week's GSC Championship and the GSC regular season title. 
 
The Blazers put two on in the first inning, but were unable to score as junior Nicole Pennington singled and senior Logan Hill drew a walk.  In the bottom of the frame, a leadoff walk, sacrifice bunt and RBI single from Ashley Cornell gave UAH a 1-0 lead. 
 
UAH began the bottom of the second inning with a leadoff home run from Kaylee Vaught for a 2-0 lead.  VSU, once again put two on in the third inning, but was unable to bring anyone home.  For UAH in the bottom of the frame, Kiara Akles hit a two out home run for a 3-0 lead.
 
L. Hill drew a leadoff walk, her third free pass of the game, to begin the sixth inning for VSU and the fifth inning where the Blazers had a runner on base.  Following a pop out to third base, freshman Aniston Gano took the first pitch she saw from Layton Murphy deep to left field for her 11^th home run of the season and a 3-2 deficit.  It marked VSU's national-leading 88^th home run of the season. 
 
A leadoff single from Akles began the bottom of the second as she moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and to third on a fly out.  VSU sophomore pitcher Samantha Richards got the third out sending the game to the seventh and the last at bat for the Blazers.
 
On a 2-2 count, junior Baylee Everson singled through the left side to begin the top of the seventh for VSU.  Sophomore Hunter Meadows hit a sacrifice bunt, moving Everson to second for the top of the order.  Freshman Morgan Hill delivered with an RBI single to center tying the game at 3-3.  She then stole second to get into scoring position for the go ahead run.  Pennington moved M. Hill to third with a fly out to center.  Murphy got the third out to keep the game tied heading to the bottom of the frame.
 
The eighth and ninth spots began the bottom of the seventh for the Chargers as Richards retired them both for two away.  Richards surrendered a two out walk to the leadoff hitter Mackenzie Nutt for what turned out to be the winning run.  It was Richards' second free pass of the game.  Nutt stole second on a 1-2 count to get into position.  Pinch-hitter Laura Harbin singled to right center on a 2-2 count for the walk-off plating Nutt for the 4-3 score.
 
Richards fell to 21-3 on the year, going 6.2 innings, allowing seven hits, four earned runs, walked two and fanned five.  Murphy improved to 14-4 on the year, going all seven innings, allowing seven hits, three earned runs, walked three and struck out three.
 
M. Hill went 2 for 4 with one RBI for the Blazers, while Gano was 1 for 3 wit ha run scored and two RBI on the home run.  Akles was 2 for 3 with a run scored and one RBI on one of the two home runs for the Chargers.