VALDOSTA, Ga. – Behind a five-run rally in the fifth inning in game one, and another come from behind five-run rally in game two, the No. 2 Valdosta State softball team defeated No. 25 Alabama Huntsville in the home-opening Gulf South Conference series.  VSU won the opener 11-3 in six innings and 6-5 in the nightcap.

The Blazers improved to 8-2 overall, and 2-0 in GSC action while the Chargers fell to 8-3 on the year and 0-2 in the GSC. 

The Blazers got on the board first in game one in the bottom of the second inning as junior Taylor Lewis hit a sac fly into right field, scoring sophomore Aniston Gano, who launched a double into center field. The Blazers added another run in the bottom of the third inning from graduate Ally Clegg's double into left field, scoring sophomore Morgan Hill and redshirt senior Baylee Everson to put the Blazers up 2-0.  

The Chargers would battle back and take a lead in the top of the fourth inning from a pair of Blazer defensive errors, 3-2, but the Blazer offense would explode in the bottom of the fifth inning, putting up five runs to give VSU the lead, 7-3. The Blazers would tack on four more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning thanks in part to Hill's two-run blast to end the game in a run-rule, 11-3. Hill picked up her first homer of the season and repeated in game two for her second.  

Blazer junior pitcher Samantha Richards pitched the complete game and her record improved to 4-1 on the year while recording seven strikeouts, three hits, eight hits, no walks, and holding the Chargers to only three runs.  

In game two, the Blazers again got on the board first in the first inning, 1-0, but the Chargers would battle back and tack on five runs through three innings to get a 5-1 lead.  

The Blazers' offense got fired up in the bottom of the sixth inning, sparked by Hill's second homerun of the evening, which scored freshman Avery Martin, who pinch ran for sophomore Katie Proctor. After keen base running from Clegg, who scored off a sac fly from junior Abby Sulte, sophomore Taylor Macera doubled to center field, scoring freshman Bobbi Poff and sophomore Kayla Tosone to give the Blazers back the lead, 6-5. 

VSU's defense held UAH scoreless in the seventh inning to complete the comeback over the chargers.  

The Blazers utilized their entire pitching staff during the game. Mia DeAngelis (3-1) started and finished the game, pitching four complete innings and picked up two strikeouts, three walks and three hits, while Hill recorded one strikeout in 0.2 innings and Richards saw two strikeouts and five hits in 2.1 innings.  

VSU now has eight home runs on the year in addition to 75 hits and 62 runs while holding its opponents to only 19 runs. 

Blazer softball is back in action on Sunday for the final game against the Chargers in the weekend series at 1 p.m. at Steel's Diamond at Blazer Park.