CLINTON, Miss. – Behind six home runs and 19 total runs scored, the No. 3 Valdosta State softball team picked up two wins Saturday afternoon over Mississippi College on day one of a weekend Gulf South Conference series. VSU came from behind in both games, winning the opener 8-4 and the nightcap 11-4.
VSU improved to 21-4 on the year and 13-0 in GSC play, while the Choctaws fell to 13-14 on the season and 6-10 in conference play. The Blazers stand alone as the only unbeaten team in GSC play.
In game one, the Choctaws jumped out on top first with a single to the shortstop, another single into left field, and followed it up with a three-run home run to bring the score to 3-0 in the bottom of the third inning, all with two out.
The Blazer offense came alive in the top of the sixth inning, as VSU scored eight runs for an 8-3 lead. After miscues from the Choctaw defense, the Blazers were able to get the go-ahead run across to make the score 4-3. With the bases loaded, sophomore Aniston Gano hit a grand slam into right field to put the Blazers up 8-3.
The Choctaws attempted the comeback in the bottom of the seventh inning as a wild pitch allowed MC to get a runner across for an 8-4 score, but the Blazer defense held strong to get the last two outs.
Junior pitcher Samantha Richards (16-1), collected the win with seven strikeouts, gave up eight hits, four earned runs, and one walk through 29 at-bats.
MC's pitching staff combined for six strikeouts, seven hits, six earned runs and three walks through 31 Blazer batters.
In game two, the Choctaws again got on the board early in the bottom of the first inning as the team hit a solo home run to bring the score to 1-0.
The Blazers responded in the top of the second inning as junior Abby Sulte hit a solo home run to tie the game, 1-1.
MC took the lead again in the bottom of the second inning after miscues by the Blazer defense and a single into left field for a 2-1 score.
VSU put up four runs in the top of the third inning as sophomore Morgan Hill walked and stole second, while graduate Ally Clegg followed it up with a two-run home run to bring the score to 3-2. Later in the inning, Sulte hit another home run to bring in sophomore Kayla Tosone to give the Blazers a 5-2 lead.
After a pitching change by head coach Thomas Macera, the Choctaws pulled within 5-3 in the bottom of the third. Blazer senior Nikki Pennington hit a double into left field to bring two Blazer batters across home plate in the top of the fourth inning for a 7-3 advantage, but the Choctaws responded with a RBI single into left field to bring the score to 7-4.
The Blazers put up another run in the top of the fifth inning and then three more in the top of the sixth inning courtesy of another home run by Sulte and a two-run home run blast by Pennington for an 11-4 lead in favor of the Blazers. Sulte now has nine home runs on the year.
Macera utilized the entire Blazer pitching staff in the game, combining for six strikeouts, eight hits, four earned runs and two walks through 29 at-bats. Richards ended up with the victory in relief action in the nightcap as she improved to 16-1 on the year.
The Blazers are back in action on Sunday to round out the series with the Choctaws with a single game slated for 2 p.m. ET. Following the road series, the Blazers will return home to host Christian Brothers on April 2-3 at Steel's Diamond at Blazer Park.
For all updates on VSU softball, visit vstateblazers.com or follow Valdosta State Athletics on social media.
