VALDOSTA, Ga. The No. 11 Valdosta State softball team is set to host West Georgia in a three-game Gulf South Conference series as part of the Red Clay Rivalry Series, an ongoing competition between Valdosta State and West Georgia athletics. The first two games are set to begin on Saturday, Mar. 11 at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. in the form of a series-opening doubleheader while the third and final game of the series is set for Sunday, Mar. 12 at 1 p.m.

Fans can access links to video streaming, live stats, rosters and more at vstateblazers.com on the softball schedule page. 

The Blazers have had a busy week as they have hosted both Barry and No. 3 Tampa on Tuesday and Thursday, winning two out of the three contests at Steel's Diamond. VSU first defeated the Buccaneers of Barry University in a single game on Tuesday afternoon, 5-4, behind a walk-off home run in the bottom of the eighth courtesy of freshman Jasmin Stewart. VSU then buckled up for a heavy hitting matchup on Thursday as the Blazers took on the No. 3 ranked Spartans of Tampa in an evening doubleheader. The Blazers ended up taking game one of the evening as freshman Jayme Prandine cracked a walk off single to score the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh, 8-7. With the win, the Blazers handed Tampa its first loss of the season with senior pitcher Samantha Richards becoming the Valdosta State pitcher with the most wins in program history. The second game of the evening was a high-scoring affair from beginning to end as seven home runs were hit between both teams for a combined 15 in the doubleheader. The Blazers fought hard in the nightcap but fell just short by the end of the seventh inning as the Spartans took game two, 11-8, resulting in a Thursday doubleheader split.

The Blazers currently hoist a 16-4 overall record and are 7-2 in conference play. Collectively, Valdosta State has hit 56 home runs this season for first in the nation as well as first in home runs per game with 2.80 a clip. VSU is also second in the conference and fourth in the nation in slugging percentage, slugging .664. 

Individually, the Blazers are led by junior Morgan Hill at the plate, batting .397 with 29 hits, 29 runs, eight doubles, eight home runs, 21 RBI and 10 stolen bases. She also averages 1.40 runs per game for a conference best. Sophomore Abby Sulte has been on a tear, batting .371 for 16 runs scored on 23 hits including one double, 12 home runs for 31 RBI and 60 total bases. Sulte's 12 homers ranks first in the conference and ties for first in the nation while she averages 0.60 home runs per game for first in the conference and second in the nation. Also, her 31 RBI is a league best and is fifth in the national rankings. Stewart is first in the conference in sacrifice bunts with 0.32 per game while Prandine is third in the GSC in on base percentage at 52.4 percent.

On the mound for the Blazers, Richards has a 2.56 ERA, tallying 101 strikeouts, 15 walks and allowed 84 hits for 36 runs in 93 total innings pitched. She has 12 complete games for first in the conference and second in the nation while also being first in the conference and sixth in the nation in games started. She has three shutouts so far for first in the conference and 15^th in the nation. Her 101 strikeouts Is a conference best and is fifth in the nation while her 13-1 record is the best in the GSC and the fourth in the nation.
West Georgia enter the weekend 4-16 overall and 2-7 in the GSC. The Wolves are led by head coach Kristy Burton in her first season with the program. She has an overall record of 126-111 in her six-season career. Valdosta State has won 12 of the last 13 matchups with the Wolves as the Blazers swept UWG in Carrollton last season in a three-game series.
 
Individually, the Wolves are led by R.J. Janke at the plate, who is batting .345 with four runs scored on 19 hits including three doubles, two home runs and 11 RBI. Katie Morris has seen the most action in the circle for the Wolves this season, tallying 63.2 inning pitched and six complete games. She holds a 3-7 record on the season with 55 strikeouts, 25 walks and has allowed 34 runs on 56 hits.

Following the series with West Georgia, VSU will head to Florida Tech as the Blazers are set to take on the Panthers in a doubleheader on Wednesday, Mar. 15 with action beginning at 4 p.m.