FORT LAUERDALE, Fla.- The No. 12 Valdosta State softball team continued its opening weekend at Nova Southeastern on Saturday afternoon as the Blazers split a double header series with the Sharks. Nova Southwestern took the first game of the afternoon 6-1, but Valdosta State fought back to win the second game 11-6.
Game 1: Nova Southeastern 6, #12 Valdosta State 1
In the first game of the afternoon, the Blazers and Sharks remained scoreless until the bottom of the third as Nova Southeastern struck first. Alexis Smith started the rally with a two-bagger to left field after senior pitcher Samantha Richards struck out the first Nova batter of the inning. From there, Ryleigh Langwell hit a single to center field, advancing to second on the throw as Smith moved to third. Tia Williams then hit a single to score an RBI and the first run of the game as Smith crossed home plate. Elise Eason hit a single of her own to score an RBI as Langwell made it home. However, the Blazers ended up making a great defensive play on the hit as VSU got the second out of the inning as Williams attempted to make it home, but was called out at third after a run down. The next batter lined out as the Blazers trailed 2-0 at the end of the third.
The Blazers scored their first and only run in the fifth inning after junior catcher Kinzie Nelson hit the inaugural home run for VSU this season to earn Guardian Bank Player of the Game honors. From there the Blazers were unable to cut into the Nova lead any further as the Sharks remained on top heading into the bottom of the fifth, 2-1.
The Sharks came right back and answered as Smith hit a single off of a bunt to begin the bottom half of the fifth. Following a fly out, Williams singled to left after Smith stole second to send Smith home for another RBI to make the score 3-1 in favor of Nova. After a sacrifice fly to send Williams to third, Alyssa Drogemuel hit a bloop up the middle to score an RBI single as Williams made it home. Madison Fine followed up the single with an RBI double to second to score Drogemuel. Kerstyn Shaw then strung together an RBI single of her own to send Fine to home plate. The Blazers were able to force a pop up to short stop to end the inning, but the deficit was too much for VSU to overcome as they fell 6-1 in the first game of the afternoon.
Richards completed the game for the Blazers going six innings and recording four strikeouts, but was credited with the loss. Nelson was 1 for 3, recording the only RBI and run for the Blazers in the first game of the day.
Game 2: #12 Valdosta State 11, Nova Southeastern 6
The Sharks got off to a quick start in the second putting the Blazers in a 4-0 hole in the first inning with four runs on three singles and four hits total for the frame.
VSU was quick to answer as junior infielder Katie Proctor had a base hit to open the inning in the top of the second. Following a Blazer pop up, freshman Jayme Prandine hit her first homer of the season and second blast for the Blazers on the day to score two, cutting the Nova lead 4-2.
In the top of the fifth inning, VSU started another rally that was kicked off by a single from senior Taylor Lewis as well as a sacrifice bunt from junior Kayla Tosone, who reached first on a throwing error by NSU. The Blazers loaded the bases after Nova gave up a walk with no outs. Senior Jasmin Stewart hit an RBI single to advance the runners, sending pinch runner junior Makenzie Kilpatrick, home to cut the score to 4-3. Freshman Saylor McNearney reached first on a Nova fielding error giving her an unearned run after Tosone crossed home plate to make the contest even at 4-4. Nelson hit a sacrifice foul out to left field to score another to give VSU its first lead of the day at 5-4. Following a strikeout, sophomore Abby Sulte smacked a two RBI double to left field to score Stewart and McNearney, giving the Blazers a 7-4 advantage.
The Sharks made the game a little more interesting in the bottom of the fifth, stringing together a couple of walks and a two RBI single from Langwell to cut the deficit to 7-6. Richards came in for sophomore pitcher Madison Lumpp later in the inning to close out the inning as Nova was unable to score anymore in the fifth with the Blazers still leading 7-6 going into the sixth inning.
Valdosta State continued to ride off its hot bats from the fifth in the top of the sixth inning as Stewart hit a single off a bunt following a throwing error and a walk from the Sharks. After a strikeout with bases loaded, Nelson's patience earned her a walk and unearned RBI to put the Blazers up 8-6. Procter then hit a massive double to left center to send three Blazers home and score her three RBIs, putting VSU up big, 11-6. Richards held the Sharks scoreless in the final two innings to give the Blazers their third victory of the season.
Four Blazer pitchers combined for six runs on nine hits with six errors, five walks and five strikeouts. Junior pitcher Mia DeAngelis was credited with the win after pitching the third and fourth innings. Proctor recorded two hits on four at bats, bringing in three RBIs and a run to earn Guardian Bank Player of the Game honors.
VSU has its final game of opening weekend at Barry University on Sunday morning beginning at 11 a.m. Fans can access links to live stats of the game at vstateblazers.com on the softball schedule page.
