ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — The No. 3 Valdosta State softball team defeated the Flagler Saints 9-0 in game one of a mid-week doubleheader and fell 4-2 in game two.
The Blazers moved to 13–4, while the Saints move to 10-8 on the year.
VSU wasted no time getting on the board, as the team recorded one run in the top of the first inning. Sophomore Morgan Hill began the game with a double to left field and then sophomore Katie Proctor, this week's GSC Player of the Week, doubled to left field scoring Morgan.
In the top of the second inning, VSU added three more runs with graduate student Ally Clegg hitting a three-run homer for a 4-0 score. Clegg recorded her third home run of the season.
The Blazers tacked on two more runs in the top of the third inning via sophomore Taylor Macera's double into left field scoring Taylor Lewis and Abby Sulte for a 6-0 lead. A miscue helped lead to a run in the fourth for a 7-0 lead.
The Blazers put an explanation on the game in the top of the sixth inning with Proctor hitting an RBI single, scoring senior Nikki Pennington and junior Hunter Meadows stealing home courtesy of heads up base running to end the game 9-0 in six innings.
Junior pitcher Samantha Richards (9-1) clinched the win in game one, fanning eight batters and allowed one walk and one hit.
Madelyn Wise collected the loss for Flagler with five strikeouts and gave up nine hits and nine runs.
In game two, Flagler got on the board first, putting up a run in the bottom of the first inning. The Blazers tied the game at 1-1 in the second inning from Lewis scoring on a Flagler fielding error.
The Saints responded in the bottom of the second as the team hit two singles and then a two RBI double to give the Saints the lead, 3-1.
Valdosta State put one back in the top of the third from Clegg's solo homer to bring the score to 3-2.
In the bottom of the fourth, Flagler scored the final run of the game from a solo home run for a 4-2 lead.
Flagler's defense held VSU scoreless through the seventh inning and took game two 4-2.
Hill and sophomore Mia DeAngelis combined efforts in the circle and recorded six strikeouts and gave up four runs and a walk.
The Blazers are back in action this weekend as they host Montevallo for a home GSC series Saturday at Steel's Diamond at Blazer Park. The doubleheader is scheduled for 2 p.m.
