VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State softball team won the opening game of a doubleheader with visiting Lee University Saturday afternoon, 6-1, but dropped the second game 13-1. 
 
The Blazers are 24-19 overall and 17-9 in Gulf South Conference play, while Lee finished the series at 22-22 and 9-17 in league play. 
 
VALDOSTA STATE 6, LEE 1 (GAME ONE)
Junior Saylor McNearney began the bottom of the first with a leadoff home run to right field, her 12^th of the season and a 1-0 lead off Lee pitcher Layne Bailey who earned the save last night for the Lady Flames. 
 
On a 3-2 count with nobody out in the top of the second, Rylie Goodridge hit a solo home run to center field for a 1-1 score.   With two out in the bottom of the second, a walk to freshman Krisley Arnold, along with a single from freshman Chloe Eichelberger and a RBI single from junior Jayme Prandine gave VSU a 2-1 lead.
 
In the bottom of the third, VSU once again put two on with two out as senior Carly Bogart reached on an error and junior Charlotte Phillips singled to left.  Bailey got a comebacker and throw to first for the out to end the threat.
 
VSU put two on with one out in the bottom of the fifth as Lee made a move to the bullpen in favor of Madison Barnett, replacing Bailey.  With two out, junior Rachael Lee laced a two RBI double to left center for a 4-1 lead and the first Blazer hit since the third inning. 
 
With one out in the bottom of the sixth, senior Aniston Gano blasted her team-leading 13^th home run of the season – a two run shot to right center for a 6-1 lead.   It was Gano's first home run since the first inning of a 1-0 win over then-No. 5 `Auburn Montgomery on Apr. 4.  
 
The Blazers retired Lee in the seventh for the win as Maulding got a nice over the shoulder catch by McNearney in left to end the game as Maulding allowed just one hit  and one earned run, while walking two and fanning eight as she improved to 19-10 on the year. 
 
Gano finished the opener 1 for 4 with a home run, one run scored and two RBI, while Lee was 1 for 3 with a double and two RBI.  Goodridge had the one hit for Lee with a solo shot in the second inning.
 
LEE 13, VALDOSTA STATE 1 (GAME TWO)
Lee plated two runs in the top of the first including a steal of home from Lexi Scalzo for a 2-0 lead.  VSU used a leadoff walk for McNearney who stole second and advanced to third on an errant throw.  Senior Brandie Seber singled through the right side plating McNearney for a 2-1 deficit in the bottom of the first.  A walk put two on with nobody out as Lee pitcher Natalie Pruitt Geesey, the winner of last night's game, had a hard time finding the zone early.  The Blazers left two stranded in scoring position. 
 
The Lady Flames loaded the bases in the top of the second with nobody out on a hit batsmen and a pair of fielder's choices.  From there, a single scored the first run for a 3-1 lead and then Javaria Smith singled through the right side plating two runs for a 5-1 score, chasing Barfield from the game.  A walk loaded the bases again and Jarvi singled to center for a 6-1 score.  A sacrifice fly plated the fifth run of the inning and a 7-1 score.  An RBI single through the left side from Bella Galloway, the ninth hitter of the inning, gave Lee an 8-1 lead with one out.  An infield single plated the seventh run of the inning and a 9-1 lead. 
 
Lee loaded the bases in the top of the third with nobody out and VSU went to the bullpen in favor of sophomore Toree Wofford, replacing Lumpp.  A fielder's choice plated the tenth run of the game for Lee following the pitching change.  Lee added a second run in the frame for an 11-1 lead.
 
On a 1-2 count with two outs in the top of the fifth, Lee's Ava Perkins hit a two run home run to right for a 13-1 score.  Pruitt Geesey retired the Blazers in order in the fifth for the run-rule final, 13-1. 
 
Barfield (2-6 ) took the loss in one inning of work, allowing five hits, seven earned runs, walked none and fanned two, while Pruitt Geesey (16-6) went all five innings, allowing three hits, one earned run, walked three and fanned one. 
 
The Blazers return to the road next weekend at Christian Brothers for a three-game series beginning Friday at 1 p.m. ET.