VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State softball team swept a doubleheader from visiting Columbus State Wednesday afternoon with a 7-0 win and a 5-3 victory in a twin bill that saw a two hour, twenty minute rain and lightning delay just before the first game was supposed to start at 4 p.m.  The Blazers improved to 22-13 on the year, while CSU fell to 24-18. 
 
VALDOSTA STATE 7, COLUMBUS STATE 0 (GAME ONE)
The game finally got started at 6:20 and Blazer graduate pitcher struck out two in the top of the first and a fielder's choice got the Blazers out of the inning as CSU left two stranded.  VSU used a single, an error and two good steals, before a fielder's choice brought in the first run and a sacrifice fly for the second and a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first.  Freshman Krisley Arnold blasted her fourth home run of the season for a 4-0 lead. 
 
In the bottom of the second, junior Saylor McNearney took a 2-1 offering from CSU pitcher Julianna Franklin to dead center field for her team-leading 11^th home run of the season and a 6-0 lead.  It was just Franklin's fourth home run allowed and second of this game in 24 games pitched this season.  
 
CSU used a single to right with one out in the top of the fourth for its first hit of the game.  Maulding worked around the single to retire the side.  In the bottom of the fifth, senior Carly Bogart hit her ninth home run of the season and the third of the game for the Blazers for a 7-0 lead. 
 
Maulding fanned two in the top of the seventh and registered her fifth shutout of the season and improved to 17-7 on the year, allowing just two hits, walked two and fanned ten.  McNearney was 2 for 3 with two runs scored, a home run and two RBI. 
 
VALDOSTA STATE 5, COLUMBUS STAT 3 (GAME TWO)
In the nightcap, Gracyn Gurley took a 0-1 pitch deep to right center for a solo home run and a 1-0 CSU lead.  Blazer senior pitcher Madison Lumpp got out of the inning without further damage as CSU left two stranded. 
 
A single, walk and an error on a sacrifice bunt tied the game at 1-1 with nobody out in the bottom of the second.  A hit batter loaded the bases as CSU got a fielder's choice out at home for the first out of the inning.  A hit batter scored the second run of the frame for the Blazers.  A sacrifice fly from junior Charlotte Phillips plated the third run of the inning for the Blazers and a 3-1 lead through two frames.
 
On a 2-0 count in the bottom of the third, senior Aniston Gano hit her 12^th home run of the season with a leadoff blast to center field and a 4-1 lead.  Freshman Chloe Eichelberger singled up the middle on a 3-2 count with two out in the bottom of the third plating a run for a 5-1 score. 
 
CSU began the top of the sixth with a double from Nova Wright off the left field wall.  Madison Norrell hit a sacrifice fly to right field for a 5-2 score, plating Wright who had advanced to third on a wild pitch. 
 
The Blazers held a 5-2 lead heading to the top of the seventh.  Ella Hopper hit a solo home run to left center for a 5-3 score to begin the top of the seventh.  VSU went to the bullpen following the home run as senior Savannah Barfield replaced Lumpp.  Barfield fanned her first batter she faced for one out.  A fly out to center followed for the second out.  A walk brought the tying run to the plate in Nova Wright who singled and advanced to second on the throw for runners at second and third with two away.  VSU brought in Maulding to try and close out the final out.  She came up with a strikeout looking to end the game and her third save of the season.
 
Lumpp (3-1) went six innings, allowing six hits, three earned runs, walked two and fanned two, while Maulding registered her 11^th strikeout of the day as she had ten in the opener.  Gano finished 2 for 3 with a run scored, one RBI and a home run. 
 
The Blazers return to the road with a huge league series this weekend at No. 5 Auburn Montgomery with a doubleheader beginning Friday at 4 p.m. ET and a single game Saturday at 1 p.m. ET.