HUNTSVILLE, Ala. –  The No. 2 Valdosta State softball team dropped the second game of a doubleheader at No. 18 Alabama Huntsville, 7-6, Saturday afternoon.  UAH won the opener 4-3. 
 
UAH (29-10, 22-7 GSC) scored four runs in the first inning and three in the fourth for the victory, before VSU rallied late with three runs in the sixth for the final margin.  VSU dropped back-to-back games for the first time this season and it marked the first time VSU had lost back-to-back games since the first two games of 2020 and the first time swept in a conference doubleheader since Apr. 27, 2019. 
 
The Blazers (32-5, 25-4 GSC) hold a one-game lead in the conference standings heading into Sunday's regular season finale.  If the Blazers win Sunday or Auburn Montgomery loses at West Alabama, VSU will clinch the GSC regular season title and earn the top-seed in the GSC Championship, scheduled for May 6-8 at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala.  Saturday marked the first time VSU had been swept in a doubleheader this season. 
 
Just as in the first game of the day, UAH jumped out to the early lead with runs in the first inning as it marked just the seventh time this season the opposition has scored in the first inning (5-2).  This time, UAH plated four runs in the frame as all nine batters came to the plate.  An infield single plated the first run after VSU senior catcher made a great play at the plate following a passed ball to get the first out.  Akles, who had a big game in the opener, singled home the first run off freshman hurler Morgan Hill.  Kaylee Vaught singled to center for an RBI, while Akles scored on a wild pitch.  A Blazer miscue plated the fourth run of the frame.  Before Saturday, VSU had outscored the opposition 46-10 in the first inning.
 
VSU cut the deficit in half in the top of the third as junior Baylee Everson singled and then came home on a home run from M. Hill for her 15^th round-tripper of the season and a 4-2 deficit.  VSU pulled within 4-3 in the top of the fourth as senior Logan Hill scored on a wild pitch from UAH starter Grace O'Berry.  In the bottom of the inning, a sacrifice bunt RBI from Ashely Cornell and then Akles hit her second home run of the day for a 7-3 score. 
 
The Blazers continued to fight and found some late-inning magic, once again, as junior Nicole Pennington began the top of the sixth with a walk.  L. Hill doubled her home for a 7-4 score and then freshman Aniston Gano belted her second home run of the day for a 7-6 score and her 12^th home run of the season.  The home run gave VSU 90 for the season in just 37 games and third of the day.  The Blazers lead the nation in both home runs and home runs per game (2.43). 
 
VSU had six runs on six hits and one error leading to one unearned run, while UAH had seven runs on seven hits with no errors.  M. Hill struggled on the mound, going just 0.2 innings, allowing three hits, four runs – three earned and walked two as she fell to 7-2 on the year.  VSU senior Avery Lamb pitched the final 5.1 innings, allowing four hits, three earned runs, walked two and fanned two.  L. Hill went 2 for 3 with two runs scored and one RBI for the Blazers, while Gano was 1 for 3 with a run scored, two RBI and a home run.  M. Hill was 1 for 4 with a run scored, two RBI and a home run. 
 
For the Chargers, O'Berry went all seven innings, allowing six hits, six earned runs, walked two and fanned two improving to 7-2 on the year.  Akles was 2 for 3 with two runs scored and three RBI for the Chargers.
 
The Blazes and Chargers finish the series Sunday at 1 p.m. ET to complete the regular season.  Check vstateblazers.com on the softball schedule page for links to live stats and streaming of the game.