VALDOSTA, Ga.- The No. 22 Valdosta State softball team fell in the Gulf South Conference series opener with West Florida on Friday evening, 6-5.

With the loss the Blazers fell to 32-13 overall and 18-10 in GSC play while UWF improved to 21-20 overall and 12-15 in conference play.

The game kicked off with the Argonauts striking first in the top of the second. UWF tacked on a triple and a single back-to-back to go up 1-0 by the end of the frame.

The Argos held their 1-0 lead until the fourth inning. In the bottom of that inning, sophomore Abby Sulte took a lead-off walk and freshman Lexi Patterson smacked a hard-hit single to center field to put two Blazers on base. Junior Katie Proctor then hit a towering three-run homer to give the Blazers the lead, 3-1.

West Florida answered right back in the top of the fifth with a double and a pair of sacrifice bunts to advance an Argonaut home and cut the VSU lead to 3-2. The Argonauts then tacked on four more runs in the top of sixth on a string of base hits and a Blazer miscue to take back the lead, 6-3.

Valdosta State fought back in the bottom of the sixth as freshman Saylor McNearney took a walk to kick off the inning. McNearney stole second before advancing to third on a wild pitch. Junior Taylor Macera then reached base on an Argo throwing error as McNearney scored to cut the UWF lead to two, 6-4.

In the top of the seventh, senior Taylor Lewis blasted her 14^th home run of the season on a solo shot to bring VSU within one, 6-5. However, the Blazers came up just short, falling to the Argos in game one, 6-5.

In the circle for the Blazers, senior Samantha Richards recorded her 28^th complete game of the season and eighth loss of the year (23-8). In seven total innings, Richards fanned three, walked one and allowed six runs on 10 hits. At the dish for the Blazers, Proctor tallied one hit for one run and three RBI on her booming three-run homer to earn Guardian Bank Player of the Game honors.

The Blazers will wrap up the 2023 regular season on Saturday, April 29 in a series-finale doubleheader with the Argonauts set for 11 a.m.

VSU will also be celebrating Senior Day, honoring seniors Taylor Lewis, Samantha Richards and Taylor Macera. The Senior Day festivities will kick off 20 minutes prior to game time at 10:40 a.m. For all things Valdosta State softball, visit vstateblazers.com.