VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State softball team has the honor of highlighting junior pitcher Samantha Richards and sophomore utility Morgan Hill as this week's Gulf South Conference pitcher and player of the week, announced by the league office Tuesday.  

Coming off a 3-0 weekend with the Gulf South Conference home opener against No. 25 Alabama Huntsville, Richards (5-1) pitched 15 innings over the weekend and recorded 14 strikeouts, one walk, 15 hits and held her opponents to only seven runs. This is the second time this season Richards has been named Pitcher of the Week.  
 

Last season, the Alpharetta, Ga., native, was named GSC pitcher of the year, D2CCA South Region Player of the Year, South Region Tournament Most Outstanding Player, and earned All-America honors. She held a 1.36 earned run average, along with 237 strikeouts and a 27-8 record in 2021. 

Hill, a native of Lake Park, Ga., went six of 10 over the weekend, picking up two home runs, four RBI and five runs and currently has a .333 batting average on the year.  She also pitched 0.2 innings and recorded one strikeout, gave up one hit, two runs and two walks. Last season, Hill earned NFCA Third Team All-America honors and also was a D2CCA Honorable Mention selection last season. She also made her first appearance on the GSC All-Academic Team. Hill finished with a .345 batting average, 20 home runs, 46 RBI, a .745 slugging percentage and a .407 on-base percentage in 165 at-bats.  

The Blazers continue their season on Wednesday against Georgia Southwestern in Americus, Ga. at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., and will travel to Lee this weekend for the Blazers' second GSC series of the season, beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 26 at 1 p.m., followed by a single game Sunday at 1 p.m.