GULF SHORES, Ala. – Scoring runs in every inning and junior Samantha Richards' third no-hitter of her career lead the No. 7 Valdosta State softball team to an 11-0, run-rule victory over Spring Hill College Saturday afternoon.  VSU improved to 2-0 in the Gulf Shores Invitational for the opening weekend of the season, while Spring Hill fell to 0-2.  
 
Richards, who earned All-America honors last season, went five innings in her first action of the season, fanning 12 and walking three in 18 batters faced.  The offense tallied eight hits in the contest as senior Nikki Pennington went 3 for 4 with three runs scored and three RBI, including her first home run of the season.  Graduate student Ally Clegg went 2 for 3 with a run scored and two RBI and a double.  
 
Following the 7-3 victory over defending national champion and No. 4-ranked West Texas A&M this morning, the Blazers continued their hot hand offensively early and often as they posted three runs in the top of the first.  Sophomore Morgan Hill drew a leadoff walk and stole second as Pennington singled through the left side, plating Hill for a 1-0 lead.  Sophomore Aniston Gano hit a sacrifice bunt to move runners to second and third and then graduate student Ally Clegg doubled home two runs for a 3-0 lead.
 
Richards struck out the side in the bottom of the first and VSU added two runs in the top of the second on a two-run blast from Pennington for a 5-0 lead and the Blazers scored one on a passed ball in the third and two more in the fourth on a RBI triple from junior Abby Sulte and she then scored on a wild pitch for an 8-0 lead. 
 
In the fifth, the Blazers added three more runs for an 11-0 lead as sophomore Taylor Macera began the frame with a single.  Junior Taylor Lewis singled home the first run and a dropped fly ball plated two runs for the 11-0 lead.  In the bottom of the fifth, Richards retired the Badgers in order for the fourth time in five innings to end the game.
 
VSU is scheduled to face No. 5 North Georgia Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET, followed by a non-conference game against West Alabama at 4:15 p.m. ET to conclude the weekend tournament.  Check back with vstateblazers.com for more information.