VALDOSTA, Ga. – Coming off a 1-1 start to Gulf South Conference play and the first 13 games away from home, the Valdosta State softball team will finally play its first games at home on Saturday and Sunday as it hosts Gulf South Conference newcomer No. 12 Trevecca Nazarene.  The Blazers and the Trojans are set for a doubleheader at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22 and a single game at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 23.  
 
The Blazers are 5-8 overall as they split two games at Union this past weekend.  The third game of the GSC-opener for both teams was washed out due to rain and extremely cold temperatures in Jackson, Tenn.  Trevecca Nazarene enters with a 9-3 record overall and a 0-3 mark in GSC play as it was swept at No. 2 Auburn Montgomery last weekend.  
 
For first time in conference history, every GSC home or conference game will be streamed exclusively on FloCollege. Fans who subscribe here can secure special pricing, and those who use an .edu email from a GSC member school can save even more on monthly or annual subscriptions. Click here for more information about FloCollege.  Wade Beale will have coverage of all home games all season long on FloCollege, while Sunday's contest will be broadcast on the radio on TALK 92.1 WDDQ FM.  
 
VSU had a 4-0 lead in the opener of the series at Union heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, but was unable to hold the lead as Union scored five runs on three hits and one error for the walk-off win with two outs on a two RBI double.  In the nightcap, VSU took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third, only to see Union plate three runs in the bottom of the inning.  The Blazers roared back with four runs in the top of the fourth, including a two-run home run from senior Aniston Gano.  VSU added a run in the sixth and Union scored two in the bottom of the inning, but VSU senior Samantha Barfield shut the door pitching the final two innings in relief of senior starter Madison Lumpp for her first save giving VSU a 6-5 win.  Junior Rachael Lee went 3 for 8 for the twin bill with four runs scored and two RBI.  Gano was 2 for 4 with four walks, three RBI and one run scored.
 
After winning nine-straight games to begin the season, including an 8-7 victory over then-No. 3 Indianapolis, the Trojans were outscored 15-1 in the three games at AUM last weekend.   Brianna Asmondy was 2 for 3 with a solo home run in the opener, while Ashlan Sensing allowed eight hits, five earned runs, walked one and fanned four falling to 5-1 on the year.  AUM hurler Chelsea Newsome tossed a no-hitter in the second game for an 8-0 win in five innings, while the Warhawks won 2-0 in the finale as the two runs stood up coming in the bottom of the first inning.  TNU has not scored a run in the past 18 innings dating back to the first inning in the 5-1 loss in the series-opener.
 
The Trojans moved to the GSC this year after going 47-15 last season in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.  TNU was one win away from the D2 National Championship rounds, losing two of three to Indianapolis in the Midwest Super Regional.  The Trojans went 23-3 in GMAC play and are under the direction of head coach Ben Tyree who is in his 17^th season at the helm of the program with a 557-236-2 (.702) record.  
 
This marks the first time the teams have met on the diamond in softball.  Asmondy leads the team with 14 hits, four doubles, two home runs and seven RBI, while scoring eight runs this season with a .389 average.  She has an OPS of 1.088 and is slugging at a .667 clip, while registering one walk and one hit batsmen for a .421 on base average.  Sensing is 8 of 19 from the dish with one double, four RBI and two runs scored, while she boasts a 1.75 ERA in 44 innings pitched with a 5-2 record in seven appearances with six starts and six complete games.  She has allowed 29 hits, 14 runs – 11 earned, walked six and fanned 40 as teams are hitting .182 against her.  Four other pitchers have seen action this season as the team has a 2.93 ERA in 83.2 inning, allowing 79 hits, 40 runs – 35 earned, walked 24 and fanned 52 with teams hitting .244 against the Trojans.  
 
This season, the Blazers are led by Gano who is 16 of 40 from the plate for a .400 clip and an OPS of 1.010.  She has scored three times, with one double, one home run and nine RBI.  Gano is slugging .500 and has a .510 on base clip with eight walks and been hit by a pitch once.  Senior Carly Bogart is second in average at a .366 clip with 15 hits, four runs scored, three doubles, one triple and eight RBI.  Junior Rachael Lee leads the team with two home runs and has two doubles, along with nine RBI and a team-high 14 runs scored.  She is a perfect 5 of 5 on the base paths.  As a team, the Blazers are hitting .297 for the season with 54 runs scored, 103 hits, 19 doubles, two triples, four home runs and 51 RBI.  The team is slugging .398 and is reaching base at a .390 clip with 45 walks and drawn free passes with 12 batters being plunked. 
 
In the circle, graduate transfer Claire Maulding is 4-4 with a 2.84 ERA in eight appearances with seven starts, six complete games and two shutouts.  She leads the team with 44.1 innings pitched, allowing 40 hits, 21 runs – 18 earned, walked 12 and fanned 39 as teams are hitting .234 against her.  Lumpp is 1-1 on the year in 20.1 innings of work, allowing 27 hits, 16 earned runs, walked five and fanned seven.  Barfield has pitched 12 innings with a save, while sophomore Toree Wofford has pitched four innings.  The staff has a 5.12 ERA in 80.2 innings, allowing 105 hits, 69 runs – 59 earned, walked 26 and fanned 55 as teams are hitting .303 against it.  
 
Following the games, VSU returns to the road at Alabama Huntsville for a three-game series, Mar. 1-2, in Huntsville, Ala.  VSU then will return home for three games Mar. 7-8 versus West Alabama.