VALDOSTA, Ga.- The Valdosta State softball team defeated Mississippi College in the final game of the Gulf South Conference opening series on Sunday Afternoon, 6-4, at Steel's Diamond at Blazer Park. The Blazers improved to 5-2 overall and 2-1 in conference play while Mississippi fell to 9-4 overall and 1-2 in league play.
The Blazers started out fast, getting out to an instant 2-0 lead behind a single from junior Morgan Hill and sophomore Abby Sulte's second home run blast of the weekend to put VSU up in the bottom of the first. The Choctaws answered back with a home run of their own in the top of the second to cut the Blazer lead to 2-1, but the Blazers were able to get out of the inning without any further damage.
The bats were on fire for the Blazers in the bottom of the second as senior Taylor Lewis hit an infield single to kick off the Blazers offensively in the inning. From there, freshman Jayme Prandine belted her first home run of the season, giving VSU a 4-1 edge. Hill then hit her second moon shot of the weekend to put Valdosta State up, 5-1. Not to be outdone, freshman Saylor McNearney hit her first home run for the Blazers to give the Blazers a 6-1 cushion. The back-to-back jacks on Sunday marked the third consecutive game where the Blazers have had back-to-back home runs as VSU had two, one in each of the games in the Saturday double header.
The third and fourth innings remained fairly quiet for both teams, but the silence was broken in the top of the fifth when the Choctaws hit a pair of doubles to score a run, cutting the deficit to 6-2. However, the Blazers were able to force a pop-up to get out of the inning.
It was not until the top of the seventh inning when things got interesting as Mississippi College hit a home run early in the inning to cut the Blazer lead to 6-3. Following a fielding error and a fly out, the Choctaws had two in scoring position with one on second and one on third. MCU then hit a sacrifice fly to score one, cutting the deficit to 6-4. The Blazer were able to escape the inning with a pop up to third-to win the final game of the home-opening series, 6-4.
Senior pitcher Samantha Richards was credited with the win to give her a 3-1 record. In the Sunday win, she recorded her fourth complete game of the season allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits, fanning five with no walks to earn Guardian Bank Player of the Game. Meanwhile Hill recorded two hits on three at bats for two runs and one RBI and a home run.
The VSU softball team will return to action on Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 4 p.m., in a doubleheader against Flagler College at Steele's Diamond at Blazer Park. VSU then will host Embry-Riddle on Thursday, Feb. 23, also at 4 p.m., to close out the opening homestand of the season. Fans can access links to live stats, audio/video streaming and more for the game tomorrow on vstateblazers.com on the softball schedule page
