VALDOSTA, Ga.- The Valdosta State softball is set to host Christian Brothers in the final homestand of the 2024 season this weekend at Steel's Diamond. Action kicks off with a doubleheader on Saturday, Apr. 20 at 1 p.m. before the three-game series concludes with a single game on Sunday, Apr. 21 at 1 p.m.  Prior to the first game on Saturday, four Blazer seniors will be honored as part of a special senior day celebration. The ceremony will begin roughly 20 minutes before the first pitch.
 
Fans can access links to video streaming, live stats, rosters and more at vstateblazers.com on the softball schedule page.
 
The Blazers are coming off their seventh Gulf South Conference series win of the season, downing Delta State at home, 2-1. Valdosta State took the series opener on Saturday in the first game of a two-game doubleheader as junior Madison Lumpp locked down her first shut-out of the season, 7-0. The Blazers went on to secure the series win in the second game of the doubleheader as a walk-off single from sophomore Jayme Prandine capped off a four-run rally in the bottom of the seventh, 9-8. However, the Blazers were unable to complete the sweep as Delta State took the series finale on Sunday, 8-4.
 
The Valdosta State softball team learned on Wednesday afternoon that it is one of the ten teams under consideration for the NCAA Division II South Region rankings as announced by the national office. The teams under consideration are, in alphabetical order: Auburn Montgomery, Barry, Mississippi College, Nova Southeastern, Rollins, Saint Leo, Tampa, Valdosta State, West Alabama and West Florida. The first region poll lists teams under consideration.  In subsequent weeks, the teams will be ranked with the second ranking scheduled for a week from today (Apr. 24) and the third on May 1, before the NCAA announces the field for the 2024 NCAA Division II Softball Championship on May 6 at 10 a.m. ET on NCAA.com.
 
In the Gulf South Conference, Valdosta State is still on the hunt for a berth in the GSC Tournament, set for May 1-4 at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala. VSU is currently fifth in conference standings while Auburn Montgomery, Mississippi College, Alabama Huntsville, and West Florida round out the top five. Each of the top four teams have already clinched a berth in the league tournament while the Blazers are just on the outside looking in.
 
VSU will look to lock up a spot in the conference tournament within the final two weeks of the regular season, currently sitting at 25-19 overall with a 15-9 record in conference play. This season, the Blazers have tallied 370 hits in 44 games including 44 doubles, eight triples and 95 home runs for second in the nation in the homers. VSU has earned 323 total runs and 299 RBI while hitting a collective .307 and slugging .594 for sixth in the nation. The Blazers also pride themselves with patience at the plate, ranking third in the nation in walks with 208 on the season. Head Coach Thomas Macera also recently reached his 1000^th career win, marking the fastest coach to achieve the feat in NCAA history. He also currently sits at 796-258-2 in his 20^th season at the helm of the Valdosta State program, just four wins shy of 800.
 
Individually, junior Carly Bogart leads the team in batting average, batting a .382 average on 42 hits in 110 plate appearances with six doubles and 11 home runs. Meanwhile, Abby Sulte leads the team in runs (55), home runs (24) and RBI (54) while slugging a team-high .938. She also leads the team in on-base percentage, getting on base at a .517 rate. Senior Morgan Hill leads the team in hits with 51 as well as doubles with 10 while also swiping a team-high 15 stolen bases.
 
Hill and Sulte are still chasing Valdosta State history as both are on the verge of making the VSU history books. Hill is currently tied for second place in career home runs with Marti Littlefield with 56 career homers for fifth in the GSC record book. She also ranks third in VSU history with runs, currently sitting at 193. Meanwhile, Sulte still leads all of Division II in home runs with 24 this season, just three shy of tying Courtney Albritton's illustrious 27 home runs in a single season for the school and conference record. Her 24 homers in a single season currently tie for third all-time in the Gulf South Conference.
 
Christian Brothers enters Steel's Diamond with a 18-27 overall record and a 9-18 mark in GSC play. The Lady Buccaneers come into the series fresh off a non-conference doubleheader sweep of Blue Mountain on Wednesday afternoon. The Lady Bucs are led by head coach Tara Wheeler who is 29-60 in her second season with the program. VSU holds an overwhelming advantage in the program matchup history with CBU since 2008, 35-0. The Blazers most recently swept the Lady Buccaneers in Memphis, Tenn. back in March of 2023, outscoring CBU 42-8.
 
The Lady Buccaneers are led at the dish by utility player Summer Alexander, who holds a .336 batting average with 26 runs scored on a team-high 43 hits including five doubles, one triple and six home runs for 21 RBI. Meanwhile, outfielder Kylie Burks leads the team in batting average, batting .345 while also slugging a team-high .609 percent. In the circle, CBU is led by Emily Schooler (9-9) who has a 4.30 ERA in 109 innings pitched with six complete games and two shutouts. She has allowed 87 runs (67 earned) on 131 hits while striking out 134 batters and walking 43.
 
Following this weekend, the Blazers will head to Carrollton, Ga. to take on West Georgia for the final series of the regular season next weekend. For more information on Valdosta State softball, visit vstateblazers.com and head to the softball schedule page.