VALDOSTA, Ga.- The Valdosta State softball team won its fifth Gulf South Conference series of the year after it took two out three games against Alabama Huntsville, following a doubleheader split on Saturday afternoon. The Blazers fell 8-3 in the first game of the day before bouncing back in the rubber match, 9-3.
 
Following the Saturday split, VSU now sits at 19-12 overall with a 11-4 mark in the GSC while UAH is 18-9 overall with a 6-6 skid in the conference.
 
GAME #1: Alabama Huntsville 8, Valdosta State 3
 
Alabama Huntsville kicked off scoring in the first game of the afternoon as the Chargers blasted a two-run homer in the top of the first to go up 2-0 in a hurry.  UAH went on to double its lead in the top of the third, adding on two more runs on three hits to go up 4-0 by the end of the frame.
 
UAH ended up adding four more runs in the top of the fifth on three hits and two Blazer errors to go up 8-0. The Blazers started to rally in the bottom of the fifth, quickly loading the bases as junior Abby Sulte tacked on an RBI on a sacrifice fly to hold off the run rule, 8-1.
 
The Blazers showed a spark in the seventh inning as senior Morgan Hill sliced a double to deep center field before Abby Sulte crushed her 21^st home run of the season on a two-run shot to keep VSU alive, 8-3. Valdosta State managed to get two more runners on base but ultimately its comeback bid fell just short as UAH took the first game of the afternoon, 8-3.
 
Graduate student Nadia Zenteno (5-6) went the distance in the game for her fourth complete game of the season. For the outings, she allowed five earned runs with two strikeouts and two walks.
 
Valdosta State collectively recorded 10 hits in the matchup with two extra-base hits including a home run from Sulte and a double from senior Morgan Hill. Hill had the best day at the plate for the Blazers, tallying two hits including her deep double late in the seventh to earn Guardian Bank Player of the Game.
 
GAME #2: Valdosta State 9, Alabama Huntsville 3
 
Valdosta State got things rolling in the series rubber match as junior Brandie Seber and Morgan Hill cracked a pair of singles to kick off the bottom of the first. Senior Aniston Gano then stepped up and crushed her 13^th home run of the season on a go-ahead three-run blast to put VSU up early, 3-0.
 
Down early, Alabama Huntsville began to chip away at the Valdosta State lead, tallying a run on an RBI single in the top of the third before tying the game in the fourth on a few Blazer miscues, 3-3.
 
Despite the setbacks in the top of the frame, the Blazers were ready to strike back in the bottom of the fourth. VSU kicked off the inning by loading the bases on three singles. Freshman Jasmin Stewart then took a bases loaded walk for an RBI to take back the lead, 4-3. With the bases still loaded, sophomore Lexi Patterson tallied two more runs while pinch hitting to give VSU a three-run lead, 6-3 by the end of the fourth.
 
The Blazers continued the offensive barrage in the bottom of the sixth as Jasmin Stewart blasted a lead-off solo shot to left field to put VSU up by four, 7-3. The home runs continued as Morgan Hill cranked a two-run blast following a Blazer walk to put an emphasis on the VSU lead, 9-3.
 
Junior Savannah Barfield capped off an impressive performance in the circle with a three-up, three-down inning in the top of the seventh to secure VSU its fifth consecutive conference series victory, 9-3.
 
Barfield went the distance in the circle for the Blazers, tallying her first complete game of the season. Over seven innings pitched, she allowed just one earned run on five hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
 
Aniston Gano recorded a monster game at the dish for Valdosta State, racking up three hits in all three of her plate appearances while busting the game wide open with her first inning three-run homer to earn Guardian Bank Player of the Game honors.
 
The Blazer softball team will return to the road next week for a non-conference doubleheader against Georgia Southwestern on Friday, Mar. 22 with action kicking off at 4 p.m. For more information on Valdosta State softball, visit vstateblazers.com and head to the softball schedule page.