VALDOSTA, Ga.- The Valdosta State softball team will be back in action at Steel's Diamond this week for a five-game stretch against Saint Leo and Delta State. The Blazers will face off with regional-foe Saint Leo on Wednesday for a mid-week doubleheader before taking on Delta State for a three game Gulf South Conference series this weekend on Saturday and Sunday.
 
First pitch for Wednesday's doubleheader against the Lions will take place at 3 p.m. while the series opening doubleheader against the Lady Statesmen will kick off on Saturday at 1 p.m. The series against Delta State is set to conclude on Sunday in a single game at 1 p.m.
 
Fans can access links to video streaming, live stats, rosters and more at vstateblazers.com on the softball schedule page.
 
The VSU softball team is coming off its first GSC series loss of the season, dropping three games to No. 13 Mississippi College in Clinton, Mississippi last weekend. Despite scoring 15 runs on 23 hits including 11 extra base hits, the Blazers were bogged down by errors as the Choctaws tallied seven unearned runs on eight errors for the weekend.
 
Valdosta State will look to bounce back at home this week, currently sitting at 22-17 overall with a 13-8 GSC record for fifth place in the conference. For the season, the Blazers have collected 330 hits in 39 games including 39 doubles, seven triples and 86 home runs for second in the nation in the category. VSU has tallied 283 total runs and 264 RBI while hitting a collective .310 and slugging .602 for sixth in the nation. The Blazers also pride themselves with patience at the plate, ranking seventh in the nation in walks with 168 on the season. Head Coach Thomas Macera is also on the verge of reaching his 1000th career win. He is just one win away from 1000 as he currently sits at 999-122-2.
 
Individually, junior Carly Bogart leads the team in batting average, batting a .400 average on 38 hits in 95 plate appearances with five doubles and 10 home runs. Meanwhile, Abby Sulte leads the team in runs (49), home runs (23) and RBI (51) while slugging a team-high 1.009. She also leads the team in on-base percentage, getting on base at a .527 rate. Senior Morgan Hill leads the team in hits with 49 as well as doubles with 10 while also swiping a team-high 12 stolen bases.
 
This past weekend, Morgan Hill passed another career milestone as she recorded her 56^th home run of her VSU career. Her 56^th career homer ties her with Marti Littlefield in program history for second in the category while also putting her at fifth in the Gulf South Conference record book. She also still sits at third in VSU history in career runs with 190. Meanwhile, Abby Sulte remains at a nation-leading 23 home runs this year, just four shy of tying Courtney Albritton's single season home run record. The 23 homers in a single season also ranks sixth in the GSC.
 
Saint Leo enters the mid-week matchup with a 30-13 overall record with a 15-6 mark in the Sunshine State Conference. Much like the Blazers, the Lions are looking to bounce back after dropping three games to conference opponent No. 25 Nova Southeastern. The Lions are led by head coach Erin Kinberger who is 327-133 in 10 seasons with the program. The Blazers hold a narrow 9-7 advantage in program matchup history with the Lions since 2007. Saint Leo defeated Valdosta earlier this season at the Gulf Shores Invitational in February 10-4.
 
The Lions are led at the dish by Madyson Coe, who is batting .403 with 11 runs on 50 hits including 12 doubles, one triple and two home runs for 28 RBI. She is also leading the team in slugging percentage at .565 percent. In the circle, Saint Leo is led by its ace, Haleigh Thomas (11-6), who holds a team-high 1.50 ERA in 107.1 innings pitched with 10 complete games and five shutouts. In 19 appearances, she has allowed 29 runs on 60 hits while striking out 131 batters and walking just 38.
 
Delta State enters Valdosta with a 10-32 overall record with a 5-16 stretch in the GSC. The Lady Statesmen are coming into Steel's Diamond off a 2-1 series victory over Christian Brothers in Cleveland, Mississippi just last weekend. DSU is led by head coach Whitney Way who is 28-66 in her second campaign with the Lady Statesmen. Currently, Valdosta State is 27-8 against the Lady Statesmen in program series history since 2009.  The Blazers last defeated the Lady Statesmen in Mississippi last season in a three-game series, 2-1, capping the series off with a 15-0 shutout in the finale.
 
The Lady Statesmen are led at the plate by Sydney Pevey, who is batting .363 behind 15 runs on a team-high 44 hits including 12 doubles and six homers for a team-best 28 RBI. Meanwhile, Abbi Cataldo has a team-best 26 runs and nine home runs while slugging .591% on the year. In the bullpen, Delta State is led by pitcher Emma Enderud (4-8) who has tallied three complete games and two saves in 108.1 innings pitched. She has a 5.88 ERA on 91 earned runs behind 142 hits while fanning 95 and walking 36.
 
Following this weekend, the Blazer softball team will return home next weekend for the final home series of the year as it hosts Christian Brothers for a three-game conference matchup. For more information on Valdosta State softball, visit vstateblazers.com and go to the softball schedule page.