CLINTON, Miss. – The No. 3 Valdosta State softball team was unable to come away with a series sweep at Mississippi College Sunday afternoon, falling in the final game, 2-1 in eight innings.

The Blazers fell to 21-5 on the year and 13-1 in the Gulf South Conference, while MC improved to 14-14 on the year and 7-10 in the GSC.  VSU's 13-1 mark in league play tops the GSC, while West Florida and Auburn Montgomery each are 12-3. 

Yesterday, the Blazers defeated the Choctaws 8-4 in game one of a doubleheader and 11-4 in game two. The team combined for seven hits and six home runs to win the series and battled back from deficits in both games.  

Mississippi College struck first in Sunday's game as a Blazer error and a single from the Choctaws' offense in the bottom of the second inning allowed a runner to cross home to give MC a lead, 1-0.  

The Blazers responded in the top of the fourth inning as sophomore Aniston Gano advanced graduate student Ally Clegg to second off a sacrifice bunt.  Senior Nikki Pennington singled to left field to plate Clegg to tie the game 1-1. 

After four innings of a pitching duel, the Choctaws broke through in the bottom of the eighth inning as MC blasted a solo home run to left field to complete the walk-off, 2-1.  The Blazers put two on with one out in the top of the seventh and had runners at second and third in the frame with two out but were unable to get the go ahead run across.  

Junior pitcher Samantha Richards (16-2) went the distance for the Blazers as she recorded 11 strikeouts and gave up five hits, two earned runs, and one walk.  

The Choctaw pitching staff combined for three strikeouts, four hits, one earned run and two walks through 27 Blazer batters.  

The Blazers return home next weekend, April 2-3, to take on Christian Brothers at Steel's Diamond at Blazer Park. VSU will play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m., and will conclude the series on Sunday with a single game slated for 1 p.m.  

For all updates on Blazer softball, visit vstateblazers.com or follow Valdosta State Athletics on social media.