VALDOSTA, Ga. – Junior pitcher Samantha Richards collected her 50th career win, and the No. 4 Valdosta State softball team put up 21 hits and six home runs as the Blazers clinched two conference wins over the Christian Brothers Buccaneers Saturday evening.
The Blazers improved to 23-5 on the year and 15-1 in the Gulf South Conference while the Bucs fell to 10-23 on the year and 4-12 in conference play. The Blazers also weathered a four-hour weather delay prior to the doubleheader as the first pitch of game one, initially scheduled for noon, was pushed back to 4 p.m. due to inclement weather.
#4 Valdosta State 8, Christian Brothers 0 (Game One)
In the bottom of the first, Blazer leadoff hitter sophomore Morgan Hill blasted her fourth home run of the season for a 1-0 lead. Later in the inning, sophomore Katie Proctor doubled to center for a 2-0 lead and then VSU loaded the bases on an error by the Bucs and a walk. Junior Hunter Meadows plated a run on a single to center, followed by a score on a wild pitch. VSU batted around in the inning as Hill plated the final run of the frame for a 5-0 lead on a bases-loaded walk.
Blazer sophomore Aniston Gano began the bottom of the second with a solo shot to right-center for a 6-0 lead and her seventh round-tripper of the season. With one on and one way in the bottom of the third, graduate student Ally Clegg went deep to left-center for an 8-0 lead and third home run of the game by VSU.
CBU had its first base runner of the game with one out in the top of the fourth as Josie Bond doubled down the left-field line as Richards had retired ten straight. Richards came back with her seventh strikeout of the game and a pop-out to first to end the threat.
Richards retired the Bucs in order in the fifth for the run-rule victory. She improved to 17-2 on the year, allowed one hit and fanned eight with no walks. The Blazers recorded eight runs on seven hits and no errors. Proctor went 2 for 3 for the game with an RBI and a run scored. Clegg went 1 for 2 with two runs scored and two RBI, including a home run.
#4 Valdosta State 10, Christian Brothers 6 (Game Two)
A walk to Hill and a single from Clegg began the bottom of the first for the Blazers. Hill moved to third on a stolen base and then came to the plate on a flyout but was called out. It looked like CBU catcher Cara Alexander was blocking the plate, but it wasn't called, preserving the 0-0 score.
Hits from sophomore Taylor Macera and Meadows put two on for VSU with two out in the bottom of the second. An infield single from senior Baylee Everson followed, but a heads up play on defense by the Bucs got the third out on the base paths to end the threat.
The Bucs used a walk and a single for two on, but sophomore Mia DeAngelis came back getting a pop out to third as CBU left two stranded in the top of the third.
In the bottom of the third, a hit batsman and a home run courtesy of senior Nikki Pennington gave the Blazers a 2-0 lead. Pennington recorded her seventh round-tripper of the season. CBU put two on with one out in the top of the fourth. The Blazers made a move to the bullpen putting Richards in as she got out of the jam.
A single and a walk began the top of the fifth for the Bucs and a bunt loaded the bases. Richards plunked Memory Willingham to score a run for a 2-1 margin and the Bucs' first run of the day. Richards fanned the next batter for one away. A line out to third followed for the second out. On a 3-2 count to Alexander, Richards barely missed the spot to tie the game at 2-2. A bloop-single behind second base plated two runs for a 4-2 CBU lead with runners at the corner. VSU got out of the jam without further damage.
Gano began the bottom of the fifth with her second home run of the day and her eighth of the season for a 4-3 deficit. Pennington drew a walk and Proctor reached on an error for runners at the corners and nobody out. Another walk loaded the bases for Macera. She doubled off the left-field wall for a 5-4 VSU lead on a 2-2 count. A great bunt right in front of the dish for Meadows loaded the bases, once again. A bloop-single over third base scored a run for Everson and a 6-4 score as the Blazers turned the lineup back to the top of the order. Clegg singled up the middle, plating two runs for an 8-4 score.
CBU put two on with one out in the top of the sixth aided by an error on the Blazers. Another error on a throw scored two runs for an 8-6 score, still with one out. Richards fanned the next two batters to get out of the jam.
With one out and a 2-1 count in the bottom of the sixth, junior Taylor Lewis went deep to center field for her fifth home run of the season and a 9-6 VSU lead. An error on CBU led to a run for the Blazers and a 10-6 lead.
The Blazer defense held firm in the top of the seventh inning as VSU recorded three flyouts back-to-back to win the game, 10-6.
DeAngelis and Richards (18-2) combined efforts in the circle and fanned four batters, gave up six runs and five walks through 28 at-bats. CBU's pitching staff combined for two strikeouts as the Blazers put up five walks and 10 runs.
The Blazers will look for the series sweep over CBU on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Steel's Diamond at Blazer Park. Following the series, VSU will travel to Carrollton, Ga. to take on West Georgia for the Red Clay Rivalry on April 9-10.
For all updates on VSU softball, visit vstateblazers.com or follow Valdosta State Athletics on social media.
