MEMPHIS, Tenn. – It was a tale both ends of the spectrum for the Valdosta State softball team as it split a doubleheader Friday at Christian Brothers. The Blazers dropped a disappointing 2-0 decision with just two hits in the opener and then set the Gulf South Conference and school record with eight home runs in the night cap in a 14-10 win.
VSU is now 25-20 overall and 18-10 in GSC play, while CBU stands at 16-28 overall and 7-22 in league play. The teams will now play the rubber-match on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET.
CHRISTIAN BROTHERS 2, VALDOSTA STATE 0 (GAME ONE)
Two sacrifice flies from Christian Brothers – one in the fourth inning and one in the sixth, proved to be the difference in the game as the Blazers' offense struggled in the opener of a three-game series.
VSU put runners on in each of the first two innings and junior
Jayme Prandine had one of two hits for the Blazers in the game in the second, but was unable to score. VSU had a runner on base in the third, but a double play ended the threat.
In the bottom of the fourth, a hit batter and a single, followed by a sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third. A second hit batter loaded the bases and Summer Alexander hit a sacrifice fly for a 1-0 lead.
Blazer graduate student
Claire Maulding continued a solid outing in the circle and worked around two on base in the bottom of the fifth to preserve the one run deficit. VSU put two in the sixth, but couldn't capitalize. In the bottom of the frame a walk and a double from Alexander put two on for the Lady Bucs. Kylie Burks hit the second sacrifice fly for a 2-0 lead.
VSU went down in order in the seventh marking the third time it had been shutout this season. The Blazers fell to 1-7 in their last eight games after winning 16 of the previous 18. Maulding took the loss (19-11), pitching the distance, allowing two hits, two earned runs, walked three and fanned five. CBU's Gabby Dickerson (9-11) pitched a two-hit shutout, walking two and fanning five.
VALDOSTA STATE 14, CHRISTIAN BROTHES 10 (GAME TWO)
In the nightcap, Christian Brothers used a pair of singles to begin the game off Blazer senior Madison Barfield. A double from Katelyn Harmon scored the first run and a two RBI single up the middle from Kate Candies gave CBU a 3-0 lead.
Blazer junior
Rachael Lee began the top of the second with a home run to left center for a 3-1 deficit and, just two batters later, freshman
Krisley Arnold blasted one out for a 3-2 deficit. In the bottom of the frame, CBU's Haylee Alberson hit a two-run shot to center for a 5-2 lead.
In the third, back-to-back walks began the inning for the Blazers and a hit batter loaded the bases with one out. Lee reached on a fielder's choice plating one run and then Arnold singled to left center plating two runs for a 5-5 score. VSU left the bags full in the frame. CBU took the lead, once again, with an infield single in the bottom of the inning for a 6-5 score.
Back-to-back home runs from senior
Aniston Gano and junior
Charlotte Phillips with two out gave VSU its first lead of the day at 7-6. It was Gano's 14
th home run of the season and 60
th of her career as she is second all-time in school history in career home runs. It also marked the third and fourth home runs of the game for VSU. Prior to this game, VSU had just two home runs in its last nine games and now 55 for the season.
VSU stretched its lead to 8-6 as Arnold blasted her second home run of the game in the top of the fifth. The Blazers then stretched the lead to 10-6 in the sixth as senior
Carly Bogart blasted a two run shot to center for the fifth different Blazer to hit a home run in the game, but CBU came back with two more home runs of its own in the bottom of the inning tying the game at ten.
In the top of the seventh, Prandine opened the frame with a solo shot to left for her second round-tripper of the season and the seventh home run of the game for the red and black. Phillips hit an RBI double to left for a 12-10 score. Lee then belted her second home run of the game for a 14-10 score and the eighth home run of the game for VSU.
The eight home runs ties Central Washington for the most in a game this season as CWU hit eight against Montana State Billings on Mar. 21. VSU had hit a season-high six against Trevecca Nazarene on Feb. 22, 2025. It is the most all-time in GSC history and school history as VSU had seven versus Christian Brothers in 2021, which had been done five times in GSC history.
Maulding replaced senior reliever
Madison Lumpp in the seventh and fanned one to end the game. Lumpp (4-2) pitched five innings of relief, allowing eight hits, six earned runs, walked one and fanned four. Barfield pitched the first inning, allowing four earned runs on four hits with one walk.
VSU scored a season-high 14 runs on 14 hits with eight home runs by six different players with Lee and Arnold each having two home runs in the contest. Arnold went 3 for 3 with two runs scored, two home runs and four RBI, while Lee was 3 for 4 with four runs scored, two home runs, one double and four RBI.
Candies finished the nightcap for CBU 3 for 3 with a run scored and four RBI. Alberson went 4 for 4 with three runs scored, one double and two home runs.
