VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State softball team hit seven home runs in a doubleheader split with No. 12 Trevecca Nazarene in the 2025 home-opener on Saturday at Steel's Diamond at Blazer Park.  TNU scored six runs in the sixth and seventh innings to win the opener 6-2, while VSU hit five home runs in the night cap for a 10-8 victory.
 
For the twin bill, five different Blazers went yard as senior Carly Bogart hit two and went 3 for 6 for the doubleheader with two runs scored, four RBI and a walk.  Junior Saylor McNearney also hit two dingers, going 2 for 6 with three runs scored and three RBI.  Senior Aniston Gano was a team-best 4 for 6 with a double, one run scored, one home run, two RBI and a walk. 
 
Trevecca Nazarene (10-4, 1-4 GSC) was led by Brianna Asmondy who hit four home runs for the twin bill on 4 of 6 from the dish with four runs scored and eight RBI, including a grand slam in the sixth inning of the opener.  Annabelle Ellis finished 4 of 8 with three runs scored and one double.
 
VSU (6-9, 2-2 GSC) hit .315 for the doubleheader with 17 hits, 12 runs scored, two doubles, seven home runs and 11 RBI.  TNU hit .267 with 16 hits, 14 runs scored, one double and six home runs.  Of the combined 26 runs scored, 23 were via the home run.
 
The teams will play the rubber-match on Sunday at 1 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on both FloCollege and on the radio on TALK 92.1 WDDQ FM with Wade Beale having the call.
 
#12 TREVECCA 6, VALDOSTA STATE 2 (GAME ONE)
The home run theme started early as Bogart blasted a two run shot to left, plating junior Rachael Lee in the bottom of the first for a 2-0 lead with two out. 
 
Blazer graduate student Clair Maulding was strong in the circle through the first five innings as she fanned eight during that span as she and TNU starter Ashlan Sensing were up to the task with the only runs coming on the Bogart blast in the first through five innings.
 
In the sixth, Sensing singled up the middle and a hit batter put runners at first and second with nobody out.  A single from Annabelle Ellis loaded the bases.  VSU got a fielder's choice out at home for the first out and Maulding got her ninth strikeout for two away. However, Maddie Poshke hit a grand slam to left center for a 4-2 lead. 
 
The Blazers used a single from Gano and a Bogart single to center, but Sensing fanned freshman Krisley Arnold and senior Brandie Seber fouled out to end the threat.  In the top of the seventh, Sensing reached on a strikeout wild pitch with two out and then Asmondy hit her first home run of the day for a 6-2 score.  VSU went down in order in the bottom of the frame. 
 
Maulding (4-5) took the loss, while Sensing (6-2) earned the win.  Maulding went seven innings, allowing five hits, six earned runs, walked none and fanned 11.  Sensing went seven innings, allowing four hits, two earned runs, walked one and fanned eight.
 
VALDOSTA STATE 10, #12 TREVECCA 8 (GAME TWO)
Ellis began the game with a double to left and sacrifice bunt moved her to third.  Asmondy blasted her second home run of the day and first of three round-trippers in the nightcap, for a 2-0 lead.  VSU senior Madison Lumpp settled down in the circle and got out of the inning with no further damage as the Trojans left two on base.
 
VSU countered in the bottom of the inning with back-to-back home runs from junior Saylor McNearney and Gano for a 2-2 score.  Trevecca regained the lead in the top of the second with a bases loaded walk to Sensing for a 3-2 lead after senior Savannah Barfield relieved Lumpp earlier in the inning. 
 
Blazer junior Rachael Lee hit a one out single through the left side and then McNearney went deep giving VSU a 4-3 lead. Asmondy hit her second home run of the game in the top of the fourth – a two run shot for a 5-4 TNU lead, but the Blazers weren't done as they plated six runs in the bottom of the fifth for a 10-5 score.  Junior Charlotte Phillips got into the home run act with a lead-off blast to left center.  Junior Jayme Prandine doubled to right center and McNearney reached on an error, plating Prandine for a 6-5 score.  Gano doubled home McNearney and then Bogart hit a two run shot for a 9-5 score.  Freshman Krisley Arnold hit her first collegiate home run with two out and a 10-5 score.
 
The Trojans made things interesting with Asmondy's third home run of the game in the top of the sixth and then Kyleigh Burgett began the top of the seventh with a home run to right center.  Maulding relieved Barfield following the home run and she fanned two for her first save as a Blazer. 
 
The nightcap saw a combined 18 runs and 14 hits with ten home runs combined between the two teams.  Gano was 3 for 4 with a run scored, home run and two RBI, while McNearney was 2 for 4 with three runs scored, two home runs and three RBI.  Asmondy was 3 for 3 with three runs scored, three home runs and six RBI. 
 
Barfield (1-1) earned the win going 4.2 innings, allowing six hits, five earned runs, walked one and fanned four.  TNU reliever Parker Herrin (1-1) took the loss going two innings, allowing four hits, five runs – three earned.