OXFORD, Ala.- The Valdosta State softball team avoided elimination in the Gulf South Conference Championship tournament on Thursday afternoon, defeating Lee 11-5 at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala.
 
VSU (30-22), who is the No. 5-seed in the tournament, advanced to a Friday morning matchup taking on the loser of Thursday afternoon's contest between No. 2-seeded Auburn Montgomery and No. 3-seeded West Florida at 11 a.m. ET.
 
The Blazers got things going offensively in the top of the second as senior Katie Proctor sliced a lead-off single past the shortstop. Sophomore Jasmin Stewart then dropped a bloop single into left field before junior Brandie Seber tallied the first RBI on a hard hit single past the second baseman to give VSU a 1-0 lead. The second inning rally was just beginning as senior Morgan Hill cracked a double to deep right center to score another Blazer run, 2-0. With runners on second and third, junior Abby Sulte took a walk to give senior Aniston Gano a one-out, bases-loaded opportunity. Gano made sure to make the most of the opportunity, crushing a ball to deep right field for a grand slam to bust the game wide open in favor of the Blazers, 6-0.
 
The Flames (22-27) answered back in the bottom of the third, picking up a run on a string of base knocks including a double, 6-1. However, the Blazers limited any further damage, stranding two Lee base runners in scoring position to close out the frame.
 
Valdosta State continued to stay on the attack as Sulte took a hit-by-pitch walk to begin the fourth inning. With one runner on, sophomore Saylor McNearney blasted her 14th homer of the year on a two-run shot to boost the Blazer lead to seven, 8-1.

VSU continued to pour on runs in the top of the fifth as Stewart kicked off the frame with a lead-off walk. Seber then hit a well-placed bunt to put two Blazers on the basepaths in a flash. Hill then rocketed a base hit up the middle to score Stewart and put the Blazers up, 9-1. Hill picked up her 17th stolen base of the year before Gano continued her prosperous day at the plate with a single hit through the gap to score one and put VSU up 10-1. The Blazers capped off the successful fifth inning with Hill crossing home plate on a caught-stealing scenario that put Valdosta State up by double-digits heading into the bottom of the fifth, 11-1.
 
Lee managed to hold off the Blazer victory via the run rule in the bottom of the fifth, rallying for four runs on four hits including two doubles to cut the Valdosta State lead to six in the blink of an eye, 11-5. Fortunately, the Blazer defense was able to batten down the hatches for the sixth and seventh innings to earn a hard-fought 11-5 victory over the Flames to keep their GSC Championship hopes alive.
 
Junior Madison Lumpp (10-6) got the start in the circle, picking up her 10th victory of the year while going five innings. She allowed five runs (two earned) on 11 hits while striking out one batter and walking two. Freshman Toree Wofford came in for the final two innings to lock up the victory, allowing three hits for no runs scored.
 
The Blazer offense combined for a total of 12 hits in the contest including home runs from Gano and McNearney as well as a double from Hill. Four Blazers had multi-hit games including Hill, Gano, Proctor and Seber. VSU was led at the dish by Gano, who went three for four at the plate for one run and five RBI with her second grand slam of the year to earn Guardian Bank Player of the Game honors.