OXFORD, Ala. – Behind 11 strikeouts from Valdosta State sophomore Samantha Richards, two doubles from freshman Aniston Gano and the nation's-leading 22^nd home run from junior Nicole Pennington, the No. 8-ranked and No. 2-seed Blazer softball team opened the 2021 Gulf South Conference Championship with a 3-1 victory over No. 7-seed Lee Thursday morning at Choccolocco Park.  VSU head coach Thomas Macera won his 900^th career game and 694^th victory at Valdosta State.
 
The Blazers (33-6) tallied a run in the first, third and fifth innings, while Richards fanned 11 for her fifth game this season of double-digit strikeouts.  Richards improved to 22-4 on the year her 30^th appearance and 25^th start.  Her 11 K's gave her 202 for the season.   She scattered six hits, one earned run and walked none.  No Lee hitter had an extra-base hit in the game. 
 
VSU also tallied six hits in the game as Gano was 2 for 3 with two doubles and one RBI, scoring the first run of the game in the first inning with two out.  Pennington was 1 for 2 with a run scored, two RBI on the home run and a sacrifice fly for the third run of the game. 
 
Macera improved to 900-271-2 all-time and 694-197-2 at VSU with the win as he got doused with water following the victory.  VSU improved to 74-43 in the GSC tournament.  The Blazers now will face No. 6-seed Mississippi College Thursday evening at 7 p.m. ET.  MC upset No. 3-seed and No. 14 Alabama Huntsville 4-3 Thursday morning.  VSU went 3-0 against MC earlier this season in Valdosta in the 2021 home series-opener in February. 
 
VSU and the Choctaws have met eight times in the conference tournament with both teams winning four games.  The teams have not met in the conference tournament since 1994.  VSU won its first league title in 1993 against MC 2-0 in Clinton, Miss.  The Choctaws are now 19-19 overall this season and went 14-14 in GSC play.  MC has won its last three games.  The Choctaws now are 30-22 all-time in the GSC Championship and are making their 14^th appearance as a member of the league.
 
Tonight's game also will be broadcast on Talk 92.1 WDDQ FM in Valdosta and online at talk921.com with Kit Strief having the call of the game.
 
The GSC Softball Championship will be streamed live through FloSports.  Fans can purchase a monthly or yearly membership to FloSports by clicking on the link to the right and following the instructions on the How to Sign Up for FloSports page.  Fans can purchase a month-to-month plan for $19.99 or a discounted annual subscription rate of $150 ($12.50/month).  FloSports partnered with the GSC as the official streaming partner for GSC Football and conference championships.  Also click on the links to the right for the GSC Softball Championship Central Page and the Choccolocco Park website.
 
Richards got herself out of some traffic in the first inning as upset-minded Lee began the game with two singles and had runners at the corners in the frame.  Richards settled down and got a ground out for the first out.  Leadoff hitter Kayla Louie was gunned down at the plate on a suicide squeeze bunt for the second out and Richards followed with her first strikeout of the game.
 
In the bottom of the inning, senior Logan Hill drew a two out walk from Lee hurler Madison Barnett for Hill's 37^th free pass of the season.  Barnett also walked senior Kiley Robb for two on as Gano hit a 1-1 double to left center, plating L. Hill for the 1-0 lead. 
 
Richards fanned the side in the top of the second and Pennington began the bottom of the third on a 2-2 count with her 22^nd home run of the season and a 2-0 lead.  Richards continued her outstanding play as Lee didn't have a base runner again until the fifth inning with two out when Kylie Bohl singled to right.  Richards came back with a strikeout to end the threat as she had retired 12-straight to that point. 
 
In the bottom of the fifth, sophomore Hunter Meadows began the inning with a double to left that barely was fair.  She then stole third and scored on Pennington's sacrifice fly for a 3-0 lead.  
 
The Flames (17-22) looked like they were going to have a big inning as Kayla Louie singled to shortstop and stole second.  Lily Hatcher then hit a great bunt single for runners at the corners, once again.  Richards got a ground out and another strikeout for two away, but Annalyn Ormsby came up with a single just out of the reach of a diving Gano at third for a 3-1 score on a 1-2 count.  Richards fanned the final batter of the inning for her 10^th strikeout to that point as Lee left two in scoring position for the second time in the game.
 
Gano hit a leadoff double to right to begin the bottom of the sixth, but Barnett was able to get out of the jam with two strikeouts and a ground out.  In the seventh, Richards got a fly out, the third foul out behind the dish for senior catcher Lacey Crandall and ended the game with a strikeout. 
 
For the Flames, Louie and Hatcher each had two hits in the game, while Ormsby had the lone RBI, plating Louie.  Barnett went all six innings, allowing six hits, three earned runs, walked two and fanned nine, falling to 7-8 on the year.