VALDOSTA, Ga.- The Valdosta State softball team closed out the 2024 home season on a high note as it downed Christian Brothers on Sunday afternoon to pick up the three-game series sweep, 11-3 in five innings.
 
With the win, VSU improved to 28-19 overall with an 18-9 mark in the Gulf South Conference while Christian Brothers fell to 18-30 overall and 9-21 in conference play.
 
Following Saturday's doubleheader sweep, the Blazers clinched a berth in the GSC Conference Championship tournament, which is set for May 1-4 in Oxford, Ala. VSU currently sits at fifth place in the conference behind Mississippi College, Auburn Montgomery, Alabama Huntsville and West Florida.
 
In the final game of the series, the Blazers struck first as junior Abby Sulte took a walk before senior Aniston Gano continued her fiery weekend at the plate, crushing a base knock to deep center field that put both Sulte and Gano in scoring position. Senior Katie Proctor then scored the first run of the game on an RBI groundout, bringing Sulte sliding into home plate for the early 1-0 lead. Sophomore Saylor McNearney continued the hot offensive start, blasting her 11th home run of the season on a two-run bomb to put the Blazers up three, 3-0.
 
The Blazer bats remained hot going into the bottom of the second as sophomore Jasmin Stewart cracked a lead-off home run for her eighth homer of the year to boost the Valdosta State lead to four, 4-0.
 
Valdosta State extended its lead in the bottom of the fourth as McNearney took a leadoff walk before junior Carly Bogart dropped a base hit in left-center field to put two Blazers on the base paths. Junior Bradie Seber then sliced a double to right center to score two more runs for Valdosta State to construct a 6-0 lead.
 
Following a brief lightning delay, Morgan Hill stepped up to the plate, blasting a scorching ground ball through the infield for a 2-RBI double, to give VSU an 8-0 cushion. Hill then made it home on a CBU throwing error to put the Blazers up 9-0 by the end of the extended frame.
 
The Lady Bucs answered back in the top of the fourth, scoring three runs on two home runs including a two-run shot to cut into the Blazers lead, 9-3. However, Katie Proctor made her senior weekend moment in the bottom of the fifth when she ended the game with a two-run blast off the scoreboard for her ninth home run of the year. The "eight-run rule" was then put into effect as Valdosta State took the series finale to complete the series sweep, 11-3 (5 innings).

Christian Brothers faced two different Blazer pitchers in the series finale as junior Madison Lumpp (9-5) got the start and picked up the win. She went all three innings prior to the weather delay, allowing three runs on three hits while striking out one batter and walking three. Junior Savannah Barfield closed out the game for VSU, going two innings while allowing no runs on two hits. She fanned one batter and walked one.
 
The Blazers racked up 10 hits on the afternoon including doubles from Hill (2), Bogart and Seber as well as home runs from McNearney, Stewart and Proctor. VSU was led at the dish by two of the seniors that were honored on Senior Day Saturday afternoon in Hill and Proctor. Hill went two of four at the plate with two doubles for one run and two RBI while Proctor tallied one hit on a two-run home run that ended the game in the fifth for one run and three RBI to earn Co-Guardian of the Bank Players of the Game.
 
The Blazer softball team will now turn its attention to the Wolves of West Georgia as they head to Carrollton, Ga. for the final series of the regular season next weekend. The series opener is set for 12 p.m. on Saturday, Apr. 28. For more information on Valdosta State softball, visit vstateblazers.com and head to the softball schedule page.