JACKSON, Tenn. – In a pair of one run games, the Valdosta State softball team was unable to hold onto a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the seventh in a 5-4 loss, but responded with a 6-5 victory in the nightcap. 
 
VSU improved to 5-8 overall and 1-1 in Gulf South Conference play, while Union now stands at 1-8 overall and 1-1 in league play heading into tomorrow's rubber match game scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. ET.  Fans can access links to live stats, audio/video streaming at vstateblazers.com on the softball schedule page.  The game will be broadcast on FloCollege. 
 
For the doubleheader, VSU hit .250 with 13 hits, ten runs scored, two doubles, one home run and nine RBI.  Union hit .268 with 15 hits, ten runs, five doubles and nine RBI.  The Blazers left 18 on base, while Union stranded 13.  Junior Rachael Lee went 3 of 8 from the dish with four runs scored and two RBI, while going 3 for 3 in stolen bases. 
 
UNION 5, VALDOSTA STATE 4 (GAME ONE)
The Blazers began game one with a fly out, but walks to freshman Krisley Arnold and senior Aniston Gano followed.  Union starter pitcher Riley Vaughn came up with two big strikeouts to get out of the jam as VSU left two stranded in the top of the first.  Blazer graduate pitcher Claire Maulding sat down the Lady Bulldogs in order in the bottom of the frame. 
 
VSU senior Brandie Seber singled with one out in the top of the fourth for the first hit of the game for either team.  Vaughn then induced a foul out to first for the second out and sophomore Daniela David walked on four pitches for two on and two away.  Vaughn then came up with her sixth strikeout of the game as the Blazers left two more stranded for five for the game to that point. 
 
Maulding retired seven-straight before Brooke Puckett singled up the middle for Union's first hit of the game in the bottom of the fourth with two out.  A walk to Courtney Marler and a single from Hailey Sipes loaded the bases for the Lady Bulldogs.  Maulding got Denise Pauletich to foul out to first base to get out of the jam as Union left the bags full. 
 
Junior Charlotte Phillips began the top of the fifth with a single to right and moved to third on a passed ball, while junior Rachael Lee was plunked by a pitch and stole second for runners at second and third with nobody out.  Following a fly out to left, Gano walked for the second time in the game to load the bases. 
 
After two early strikeouts, senior Carly Bogart came up big as she doubled down the left field line, plating two runs for a 2-0 lead, but Gano was thrown out at third on the play for the second out.  It was Bogart's third two-bagger of the season to tie for the team-lead.  An error put runners at the corners and Seber then stole second.  A walk to junior Jayme Prandine loaded the bases, once again, but VSU left the bags full as Vaughn induced a foul out to left field to end the threat in the top of the fifth.
 
A walk to junior Evie Pitts an error and a sacrifice bunt moved her to third with one out in the top of the sixth.  Lee reached on a fielder's choice as Pitts scored for a 3-0 lead.  Arnold drew a free pass for the eighth walk issued by Vaughn.  Union went to the bullpen in favor of Rylee Moore, replacing Vaughn and Gano greeted her with an RBI single for a 4-0 lead. 
 
Union began the bottom of the sixth with a single from Sarah Kate Thompson and a sacrifice bunt moved her to second.  A ground out to short moved Thompson to third with two away.  Maulding left Thompson stranded at third with a foul out to third sending the game to the seventh.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, Sipes drew a walk to begin the frame for the third free pass issued by Maulding.  Pauletich reached on a costly error and Sipes moved to third.  Mallory Hilderbrand singled to left, plating Sipes for a 4-1 score.  A walk and wild pitch plated the second run of the inning with nobody out.  An RBI double from Morgan Jennings pulled Union within 4-3 with nobody out.  Senior Madison Lumpp replaced Maulding and got Thomson to fly out to center for the first out.  On a 3-2 count, Lumpp got Camryn Langley to ground out to shortstop for the second out.  Puckett doubled to right, plating two runs for the walk-off victory.
 
For the game, VSU (4-8, 0-1 GSC) had four runs on four hits with one error, as Maulding went 6.0 innings, allowing six hits, five runs, two earned, walked four and fanned two as she fell to 4-4 on the year.  Bogart was 1 for 4 with two RBI.  The theme of leaving runners on base continued for the Blazers as they stranded 12 in the game, while Union left five.  VSU dropped its fifth-straight game. 
 
Union (1-7, 1-0 GSC) won its first game of the season with the five runs in its last at bat.  The Lady Bulldogs had five runs on seven hits with three errors.  Puckett was 2 for 4 with two RBI and the winning double.  Moore (1-1) took the win in relieve of Vaughn as she went 1.2 innings, allowing one hit, walked one and fanned one. 
 
VALDOSTA STATE 6, UNION 5 (GAME TWO)
In the nightcap, VSU broke through in the top of the third as Lee began the frame with a single through the left side and a sacrifice bunt moved her to second.  A walk followed and Seber singled down the left field line for a 1-0 lead. 
 
The Lady Bulldogs plated three runs in the bottom of the frame, highlighted by a two RBI double from Puckett and an RBI single for a 3-1 score off Lumpp.  The Blazers came right back in the fourth, plating four runs on three hits and one Union error.  Freshman Maci Padgett got her first collegiate hit and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a Lee single to left for a 3-2 deficit.  Gano later came up with her first home run of the season, a two run shot to right center and Lee scored on a miscue.  It was Gano's 47^th round-tripper of her storied career. 
 
VSU then made the score 6-3 in the sixth with a sacrifice fly from Arnold, but Union would not go down without a fight as the Lady Bulldogs scored two runs in the bottom of the frame, for a 6-5 score.  Blazer senior Samantha Barfield pitched the final two innings and came away with the save and Lumpp improved to 1-1 on the year, going five innings, allowing eight hits, five earned runs, walked two and fanned one. 
 
Lee finished the nightcap, 3 for 4 with two runs scored and one RBI, while Gano was 1 for 2 with two walks, a home run and two RBI.  Union's Kira Finkley (0-3) took the loss in 3.2 innings, allowing seven hits, five runs – four earned, walked three and struck out three.  Puckett was 1 for 4 in the game with two RBI.