TAMPA, Fla. – The Valdosta State softball team dropped a doubleheader at No. 10 Tampa Saturday afternoon, losing the first game 4-1 and 6-0 in the second game.  VSU fell to 4-5 on the year, while Tampa improved to 7-1. 
 
The Blazers close out the weekend road trip with a doubleheader Sunday at Saint Leo beginning at 12 p.m.  Check back with vstateblazers.com for links to live stats and streaming of the games.
 
#10 TAMPA 4, VALDOSTA STATE 1 (GAME ONE)
VSU had runners on in the first two innings, but was unable to come away with a score as junior Rachael Lee began the game with a single and freshman Krisley Arnold doubled in the second continuing her strong start to the weekend.  The Spartans used a pair of singles and a walk to former Blazer Abby Sulte, before pitcher Mariah Galhouse singled home two runs and one scored on the play on an error for a 3-0 lead. 
 
VSU had two on in the fourth but could not score and Lauren Fantone hit an infield single for a 4-0 lead.  In the sixth, VSU used a single from junior Saylor McNearney to begin the frame and senior Aniston Gano singled up the middle, but McNearney was called out on a wild pitch.  Junior Charlotte Phillips singled to right, plating Gano for a 4-1 deficit.   Junior Adrianna Portanova doubled in the seventh, but the Blazers were unable to score.
 
The Blazers finished with one run on eight hits with two doubles and a walk as eight of the nine batters each collected a hit.  Graduate student Claire Maulding (4-2) took the loss, going six innings, allowing seven hits, four earned runs, walked three and fanned two.  Galhouse (2-0) earned the win, going seven innings, allowing eight hits, one earned run, walked one and fanned five.  She also finished 3 for 3 at the plate with two RBI. 
 
#10 TAMPA 6, VALDOSTA STATE 0 (GAME TWO)
Following a scoreless top of the first, Tampa used a hit batsmen to Lauren Fantone and a bunt single and moved the runners to second and third with two away on senior starter Madison Lumpp.  Galhouse walked and a wild pitch plated the first run of the game, scoring Fantone.  A two RBI double from Alexa Russo made the score 3-0.  Kelsey Winters singled home Russo for a 4-0 lead.
 
The Spartans added two more runs in the bottom of the second with a leadoff single and a bunt single, followed by a two RBI single from Kinnah Kreider who then advanced to second on an error.  Sulte hit a sacrifice fly for a 6-0 lead. 
 
In the fourth, VSU put two on, with a single from junior Carly Bogart and Seber reached on a fielder's choice error but were unable to manufacture any runs.  VSU had a good chance in the seventh but left two stranded as it left eight on base in the game and 15 for the doubleheader. 
 
For the game, VSU had six hits with one error, while Tampa had six runs on seven hits and three errors.  Lumpp (0-1) took the loss, going six innings, allowing seven hits, six earned runs, walked one and fanned two.  Kate DeSimone (1-0) went the distance with a six-hit shutout and fanned ten with no walks. Gano and Portanova each were 2 for 3 for the Blazers.