VALDOSTA, Ga. -  The Valdosta softball team scored two runs in the third inning, but four runs by visiting Lee in the fourth, including a three-run home run as the Lady Flames outscored the Blazers 9-1 over the final four innings for a 9-3 victory in the series opener Friday evening.
 
The Blazers fell to 23-18 overall and 16-8 in Gulf South Conference play, while Lee improved to 21-21 overall and 8-16 in league play.  The series is set for a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. at Steel's Diamond at Blazer Park.
 
Blazer graduate pitcher Claire Maulding quickly retired the first two batters of the top of the first, but a pair of singles and a hit batter loaded the bases.  Lee's Bella Galloway gave it a ride to right field, but Blazer junior Charlotte Phillips was there for the catch as Lee left the bags full.
 
Lee put two on with two out in the top of the third and VSU came up with the fly out, this time to center for the final out as Lee left six stranded through three innings.  VSU put the leadoff runner on base in the bottom of the frame for the first time in the game as junior Saylor McNearney drew a walk.  Senior Brandie Seber singled through the right side plating McNearney, who had registered her 21^st stolen base of the season for a 1-0 lead.  A single from senior Carly Bogart put runners at the corners with one out.  A passed ball plated the second run of the inning for a 2-0 lead.  Lee pitcher Natalie Pruitt Geesey got a strikeout and foul out to end the inning. 
 
With two out in the fourth, Lee used back-to-back singles, including a bunt which originally was ruled out at first, but was reviewed and overturned.  Following the overturned call with runners at the corners, Ana Macha singled through the left side for a 2-1 score.  On a 3-2 count, Javaria Smith went deep to right for a three run home run and a 4-2 Lee advantage. 
 
VSU brought in senior Savannah Barfield to pitch the top of the fifth, replacing Maulding.  A foul out to right and a missed cutoff throw plated the fifth run of the game for Lee, 5-2.  Pruitt Geesey retired the Blazers in order in the fifth. 
 
The third VSU error proved costly with two out in the sixth as an errant throw to first base for the third out plated a run for a 6-2 score in favor of the Lady Flames.  Bogart began the bottom of the sixth with a single to left for VSU's first hit since the third inning when it scored two runs.  A wild pitch moved Bogart to second and a walk put junior Charlotte Phillips at first and passed ball moved the runners to second and third.  Another walk loaded the bases with nobody out as Lee made a move to the bullpen in favor of Layne Bailey.  With the bases loaded, Bailey got the first out with a pop out to second.  Freshman Chloe Eichelberger hit a sacrifice fly to right for a 6-3 deficit.  A lineout to left ended the inning as VSU left two on.
 
An error and two good bunts plated one run and a single to left plated the second run of the inning for an 8-3 Lee advantage as VSU went to the bullpen in favor of senior Madison Lumpp.  A walk loaded the bases with one out and a sacrifice fly plated the ninth run of the game and third of the inning. 
 
VSU tallied its fifth hit of the game in the seventh, but Bailey retired the Blazers to earn her fourth save of the season.  Maulding (18-10) took the loss, going four innings, allowing nine hits, four earned runs, walked one and fanned four.  Barfield pitched the final three innings, allowing four hits, five runs – one earned, walked one and fanned two.  For the Lady Flames, Pruitt Geesey (15-6) took the win in five innings, allowing four hits, three earned runs, walked five and fanned three.  Bailey allowed just one hit over the final two innings.
 
Both Seber and Bogart were 2 for 4 with a run scored, while Seber had one RBI.  Smith was 3 of 5 with a run scored and four RBI for Lee.