VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State softball team rallied in the late innings for a pair of huge wins on Friday afternoon to sweep a doubleheader against No. 24 Mississippi College at Steel's Diamond. VSU plated five runs in the bottom of the fifth for a 5-3 win and then scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth for a 12-7 win in the nightcap.
The Blazers improved to 20-12 overall and 15-4 in Gulf South Conference play, pulling into a tie for first in the GSC standings with West Florida. Mississippi College fell to 24-10 overall and 14-6 in league play.
For the doubleheader, Blazer junior
Saylor McNearney went 5 for 9 from the plate with four runs scored, two home runs including a grand slam and seven RBI and 2 for 2 in stolen bases. Graduate student pitcher Clair Maulding pitched nine innings earning two wins (16-6), allowing four hits, three runs – two earned, walked one and struck out six.
VALDOSTA STATE 5, #24 MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE 3 (GAME ONE)
MC used a hit batter, single and an error by the Blazers plated one run in the top of the first inning. In the top of the second with two out, Brookelyn Cannon hit a solo home run off the scoreboard for a 2-0 lead.
The Blazers used a one out walk to senior
Brandie Seber and a bloop-single from McNearney for two on in the bottom of the third. MC pitcher Madison Jenkins got a fly out to right and a foul out to third to end the threat. On a 3-2 count with nobody out in the fourth, Megan Matheis golfed a home run to left field for a 3-0 score.
VSU had a runner at first with one out and junior
Rachael Lee was in a battle at the plate with a 13-pitch at bat before getting plunked by the Jenkins offering for two on with less than two outs for the second-straight inning. Jenkins got a pair of pop outs to get out of the inning, once again as VSU left five stranded to that point.
The Blazers put two on with nobody out in the bottom of the fifth and had runners at the corners. A stolen base by McNearney and a two RBI single and advance from Lee pulled VSU within 3-2 as MC went to the bullpen in favor of AK Willingham. Freshman
Krisley Arnold drew a walk with one out to load the bases. Junior
Rachael Lee came up with a two RBI double to right center for a 4-3 VSU lead. VSU scored on the second error by the Choctaws in the inning for a 5-3 lead.
Maulding shut the Choctaws down in the sixth and seventh innings as she improved to 15-6 on the year allowing four hits, three runs – two earned, walked one and fanned five. Phillips went 1 for 3 with a run scored and two RBI, while Lee was 1 for 2 with a double, a run scored and two RBI. Willingham (0-1) took the loss in one inning, allowing one hit, two runs – one earned, walked one and fanned two.
VSU handed MC its first loss in 15 games and the first loss for the Choctaws since Feb. 22, 2025. The win also snapped a five-game skid against MC for the Blazers.
VALDOSTA STATE 12, #24 MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE 7 (GAME TWO)
Blazer senior pitcher
Madison Lumpp retired the first two batters of the nightcap quickly, but a single from Shelby Samples and an RBI double from Megan Matheis plated Samples for a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Phillips blasted her sixth home run with one out in the bottom of the first for a 1-1 score.
MC used a two out, two RBI double from Blakely Gill for a 3-1 lead in the top of the second. In the bottom of the inning, Phillips used a 12-pitch at bat and laced an RBI single to left field for a 3-2 deficit. A walk to senior
Aniston Gano loaded the bases, but Choctaw pitcher Camryn Bailey got a big strikeout to end the inning as VSU left the bases loaded.
An errant throw down to third on a steal attempt plated a run for the Choctaws in the third off Blazer senior reliever
Savannah Barfield. MC then loaded the bases with one out. An RBI single followed as VSU brought in sophomore
Toree Wofford to replace Barfield and a sacrifice fly gave MC a 6-2 lead.
The Blazers then loaded the bases with a hit batter, single and an error on a sacrifice bunt with nobody out in the bottom of the third. MC reliever Camryn Bailey got two outs but with one swing of the bat, McNearney hit her ninth home run of the season and a grand slam tying the game at 6-6.
MC hit a solo home run in the top of the fourth for a 7-6 lead as Matheis tallied her third hit of the game with a single, double and now a home run. In the bottom of the inning, a walk and a hit batter put two on for the Blazers with nobody out. A pop up on an attempted sacrifice bunt got the first out and an infield fly for the second out. Bailey got out of the jam with a strikeout as VSU stranded two.
McNearney continued her strong play with a two out single in the bottom of the fifth, stole second and scored on a single from Phillips for a 7-7 score. Gano gave one a ride to left, but MC left fielder Bella Myers robbed Gano of a home run with a nice grab over the fence preserving the 7-7 score.
Maulding came in and pitched the top of the sixth and retired the side on just three pitches. Freshman
Krisley Arnold doubled to the left field gap and Lee walked for two on with one out in the bottom of the sixth. Junior
Jayme Prandine loaded the bases with a single to right. Senior
Brandie Seber singled up the middle, plating two runs for a 9-7 score. McNearney hit her second home run of the game and tenth of the season for a 12-7 lead.
Maulding retired the Choctaws in the seventh earning her 16
th win of the season (16-6). VSU tallied 12 runs on 12 hits with one error, while MC had seven runs on nine hits and one error. McNearney went 3 for 5 from the dish with two home runs, three runs scored and seven RBI. Phillips went 3 for 5 with a home run, a run scored and three RBI. Maulding pitched the final two inning innings with one strikeout.
The series is set for the finale on Saturday at 12 p.m.
