VALDOSTA, Ga. The No. 13 Valdosta State softball team is set to host Barry and Tampa, with the Buccaneers coming to town on Tuesday at 4 p.m. for a single game that was rescheduled from Feb. 5 due to weather conditions. The No. 3 Spartans will make their way to Valdosta for a Thursday evening doubleheader with action beginning at 4 p.m.
Fans can access links to video streaming, live stats, rosters and more at vstateblazers.com on the softball schedule page.
VSU recently swept Shorter on the road in a three game Gulf South Conference series. The Blazers opened the series with a single game on Saturday night where VSU and Shorter remained locked at 2-2 at the end of the seventh inning. However, the Blazer bats came to life in the top of the ninth, scoring seven to secure a 9-2 victory in game one. The Blazers and Hawks returned on Sunday afternoon for a doubleheader as game two looked similar to game one, with Valdosta State and Shorter knotted up 2-2 at the end of the seventh frame. Much like game one, VSU excelled in extra innings to get the job done with 5 runs in the top of the eighth to win the game, 7-5. In the series closer, the Blazers took an early 2-1 lead in the top of the first and did not look back, scoring seven more throughout the game to give VSU a 9-3 victory and its first conference series sweep of the season.
The Blazers currently hoist a 14-3 overall record and are 7-2 in conference play. Collectively, Valdosta State has hit 45 home runs this season for first in the nation as well as first in home runs per game with 2.65 a clip. VSU is also second in the conference and fourth in the nation in slugging percentage, slugging .658.
Individually, the Blazers are led by senior Taylor Lewis at the plate, batting .432 with 19 hits, seven runs, two doubles, four home runs, and 10 RBI. Junior Morgan Hill is averaging .410 with 25 hits, a conference high 25 runs, seven doubles, six home runs and 18 RBI. Hill is averaging 1.47 runs per game for first in the conference and fourth nationally while freshman Jasmin Stewart is first in the conference and 15th in the nation in sacrifice bunts per game with .38 a clip.
On the mound for the Blazers, Richards has a 2.09 ERA, tallying 83 strikeouts, 13 walks and allowed 65 hits for 25 runs in 77 total innings pitched. She has 10 complete games for first in the conference and second in the nation while also being first in the conference and 11th in the nation in games started. She has three shutouts so far for first in the conference and 13th in the nation. Her 83 strikeouts Is a conference best and is eighth in the nation while her 11-1 record is the best in the GSC and the fourth in the nation.
Barry enters the week 14-10 overall after dropping two in a doubleheader at No. 2 North Georgia Monday evening. The Buccaneers are led by head coach Sean Cotter, who is 101-131 in his sixth season with the program and is 521-441-2 in his 22 year career. Valdosta State leads in the all time series with Barry, winning 18 of the last 32 matchups.
Individually, the Buccaneers are led at the plate by Cassandra Lee who is batting .339 on 21 hits for 13 runs, two doubles, nine RBU and eight stolen bases. On the mound for Barry, Maci Barnhart has a 1.01 ERA with a 6-3 record, recording five complete games on 69.1 innings pitched with 77 strikeouts, 13 walks and 52 hits allowed for 24 runs. Lee is also a notable presence on the mound, hoisting a 1.04 ERA with a 6-2 record, recording one complete game in 40.1 innings pitched with 47 strikeouts, 15 walks and 17 hits allowed for seven runs.
No. 3 Tampa comes into the week 11-0, and will host Southwest Minnesota State in a doubleheader on Tuesday and Chestnut Hill in a doubleheader on Wednesday before traveling to Valdosta to end its week. The Spartans are spearheaded by head coach Leslie Kanter, who is 741-474 in her 29 seasons with the program. The Blazers lead the all-time series with the Spartans, 34-13.
Individually, the Spartans are led by Mariah Galhouse at the plate, batting .500 with seven runs on 15 hits with two doubles and two home runs while Lexie Chevalier is averaging .387 with six runs on 13 hits with three doubles, one triple and one homer. Galhouse is the leading pitcher for the Spartans, holding a 0.97 ERA with two complete games in 29 innings, tallying 11 strikeouts and two walks.
Following the pair of weekday matchups, the Blazers are set to host West Georgia at Steel's Diamond at Blazer park in a three game conference series with the action beginning on Saturday, Mar. 11 at 2 p.m.
