VALDOSTA, Ga.- The Valdosta State softball team is set for a packed week as it heads to Columbus State for a mid-week doubleheader on Wednesday before returning home to host Alabama Huntsville for a three-game series this weekend. First pitch for Wednesday's non-conference doubleheader will take place at 3 p.m. while this weekend's Gulf South Conference series kicks off with a single game on Friday evening at 5 p.m. The series will conclude on Saturday in a doubleheader set to begin at 1 p.m.
 
Blazer fans can access links to video streaming, live stats, rosters and more at vstateblazers.com on the softball schedule page.
 
VSU is coming off a wildly successful weekend in Livingston, Ala. where the Blazers took two in a three-game conference series against No. 13 West Alabama. Valdosta State fell in the first game of the series on Saturday 7-5 despite a valiant comeback effort in the top of the sixth. However, Sunday was a different story as the Blazer offense was clicking on all cylinders. VSU took the first game of Sunday's doubleheader 11-9 as a first inning grand slam from senior Katie Proctor set the tone for the Blazers the rest of the afternoon. Valdosta State ended up taking the second game of the doubleheader in a dominant 14-3 (5 Inn.) victory where the Blazers tallied a season-high 15 hits including six home runs.
 
The entire Blazer line-up from top to bottom had something to show for this weekend's conference series victory. Collectively, VSU racked up 14 home runs over the three-game stretch for 16 extra-base hits total. Six Blazers recorded two or more home runs against UWA with three having multiple home runs in a single game. For the weekend, junior Abby Sulte blasted three home runs while senior Aniston Gano, sophomore Jasmin Stewart, sophomore Saylor McNearney, junior Carly Bogart, and Katie Proctor each crushed two. Meanwhile, senior Morgan Hill cracked a home run and a triple while junior Brandie Seber batted a team-high .500, racking up five hits for the weekend.
 
Overall, Valdosta State currently holds a 16-10 overall record with a 9-3 mark in the GSC. The Blazers have tallied 221 hits in 26 games including 20 doubles, five triples and a nation-leading 62 home runs for 2.38 home runs a game. VSU has cashed in 187 total runs and 170 RBI while hitting a collective .316 and slugging .624 for third in the nation. The Blazers also show extreme patience at the plate, ranking fourth in the nation in walks with 108 on the season.
 
For the season, Carly Bogart leads the team in hitting percentage, bolstering a .481 average on 25 hits in 52 plate appearances with two doubles and eight home runs. Meanwhile, Abby Sulte leads the team in runs (34), hits (32), home runs (18), RBI (39) while slugging a team-high 1.088 percent. Senior Morgan Hill leads the team in doubles with six while also recording 28 hits for 28 runs and eight stolen bases. On a national level, Sulte's 18 home runs lead the nation while Gano's 11 are tied for second and Hill's nine are tied for 10^th.
 
Columbus State enters the mid-week matchup with a 14-11 record after dropping two to Peach Belt Conference opponent, Lander University, last weekend. Columbus State is led by head coach Brad Huskisson who is 480-320-2 in his 16^th season as the head of the Cougars. Valdosta State is 6-0 against Columbus State in program series history since 2015 with the Blazers last sweeping the Cougars in a doubleheader in Valdosta, back in 2022.
 
Individually, the Cougars are led at the plate by Brooke Miller, who is batting .368 with four doubles and 11 home runs, tying for second in the nation. Kenzie Bayer is another notable name for the Cougars at the dish, batting .362 with four doubles, a triple and six home runs for 21 RBI. Haylee Folds (5-3) leads Columbus State in the circle, holding a 6.03 ERA with 56 runs allowed on 76 hits. She has recorded four complete games with two shutouts in 60.1 innings of work while fanning 42 and walking 39. Meanwhile, pitcher Julianna Franklin (5-3) has a team-best 4.58 ERA with one save and 30 strikeouts in 36.2 innings pitched.
 
Alabama Huntsville enters Steel's Diamond with a 17-7 overall record with a 5-4 mark in GSC play. The Chargers recently swept Delta State in a three-game conference series last weekend in Huntsville, outscoring the Lady Statesmen 37-10. UAH continues to be led by veteran head coach Les Stuedeman who is 1245-420-1 in her 29^th season at the helm of the Chargers. In a conference rivalry that has spanned over twenty-five years, UAH holds the program record with VSU since 1996, 76-53 with the Chargers having a narrow 6-4 advantage over the last 10 matchups. UAH most recently swept the Blazers in a three-game series in Huntsville at the tail-end of the regular season in 2023.
 
Individually, the Chargers are led by Lawren Haynes on offense, batting .449 with 29 runs on 40 hits including four doubles, three triples and one homer. Meanwhile, Alex Douthitt is batting .446 with 26 runs and 33 hits including five doubles, a triple and five home runs. The Chargers bolster a strong bullpen, led by pitcher Katie Bracken (8-1) who holds a 2.06 ERA with nine complete games and three shutouts in 64.2 innings of work. So far this season, she has fanned 70 batters while walking 39. Josie Thompson (4-4) is another notable name for UAH, recording a 2.48 ERA with two complete games and two shutouts (one combined) over 48 innings of action. She has 41 strikeouts with just 11 walks.
 
Following the five-game stretch this weekend, VSU will hit the road to take on Georgia Southwestern for a non-conference doubleheader on Friday, Mar. 22 at 4 p.m. before returning home to host Nova Southeastern for a doubleheader on Sunday, Mar. 24 at 1 p.m. For more information on Valdosta State softball, visit vstateblazers.com and go to the softball schedule page.