VALDOSTA, Ga. –  After opening the day with a dramatic 2-1 extra-inning victory, the Valdosta State softball team carried that momentum into game two of Saturdays Gulf South Conference doubleheader, defeating Alabama Huntsville 4-1 to complete the sweep at Steel's Diamond at Blazer Park.

Game #1 Valdosta State 2, UAH 1

In a tightly contested Gulf South Conference opener at Steel's Diamond at Blazer Park, the Valdosta State softball team walked off Alabama Huntsville with a 2-1 extra-inning victory Friday afternoon.

The win improved the Blazers to 8-6 on the season, while UAH fell to 17-4. In a game dominated by pitching, Valdosta State and the Chargers combined for just 12 hits, with both teams finishing with six apiece.

Savannah Barfield earned the win in the circle, tossing a complete eight innings while allowing six hits and one earned run with four strikeouts and four walks. She threw 109 pitches and worked out of multiple jams to keep the Chargers off the scoreboard through the first seven innings. UAH ace Megan Shurtz suffered the loss despite a strong outing, surrendering two runs on six hits over seven innings with six strikeouts.

Neither team was able to break through in regulation. Alabama Huntsville stranded nine runners in the contest, including leaving the bases loaded in the third inning after two walks and a single. The Chargers also threatened in the sixth when a single and an error put runners at second and third with one out, but Barfield induced a strikeout and a flyout to escape the inning unscathed.

Valdosta State had its chances as well. In the sixth inning, Rachael Lee doubled to right field and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Saylor McNearney, but the Blazers were unable to push the run across . VSU left four runners on base in the game 

UAH finally broke the scoreless tie in the top of the eighth inning. After a leadoff groundout, Kylie Ballentin doubled down the left field line and later scored on an RBI single by Allie Yeary to give the Chargers a 1-0 advantage.

The Blazers responded immediately in the bottom half. Cailyn Cooke led off with a bunt single, and Lee was hit by a pitch to put two on with nobody out . Saylor McNearney followed with a bunt single to load the bases. A wild pitch allowed Cooke to score the tying run, and moments later Jayme Prandine delivered the game-winning RBI single down the left field line, plating Lee for the 2-1 walk-off victory.

Both pitchers showed resilience throughout the afternoon, repeatedly working around traffic. Barfield stranded runners in five different innings, including high-pressure situations in the third and sixth, while Shurtz navigated through a sixth-inning jam with a runner at third and escaped the seventh after a pinch-hit single and a runner in scoring position. The ability of both arms to survive innings with runners left on base kept the game scoreless deep into extra innings before Valdosta State delivered the decisive blow.

With the victory, the Blazers secured a hard-fought conference win.

Game #2 Valdosta 4, UAH 1

Unlike the pitcher's duel in game one, Valdosta State struck quickly in the second game. After UAH grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a sacrifice fly by Kylie Ballentin, the Blazers answered with a four-run bottom half of the inning.

Saylor McNearney drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a passed ball. Jayme Prandine reached on a strikeout and error, allowing McNearney to score and tie the game at 1-1. Following a sacrifice bunt by Annalise Buncy, Carly Bogart delivered an RBI single to put VSU ahead 2-1. Moments later, Cailyn Cooke blasted a two-run home run to center field, extending the lead to 4-1 in a frame where all four runs were unearned

Freshman Giselle Portanova started in the circle and allowed one run on five hits over 2.1 innings before Toree Wofford entered in relief. Wofford (1-3) was outstanding, tossing 4.2 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits while striking out two to earn the win. As a staff, the Blazers limited UAH to seven hits and did not allow a run after the opening inning.

UAH threatened multiple times, but Valdosta State's pitching and defense held firm. In the third inning, the Chargers put a runner at third with two outs after a wild pitch, but Wofford induced a groundout to end the threat. In the fourth and fifth innings, UAH recorded base hits and stolen bases, yet the Blazers erased runners with timely groundouts and defensive plays to maintain the three-run advantage. Wofford retired the side in order in the seventh to seal the victory.

Cooke finished 1-for-3 with the two-run homer and two RBI, while Bogart added an RBI single. McNearney reached base twice with two walks and scored a run, and Krisley Arnold added a double and a stolen base in the contest.

Combined with the game-one win, the Blazers showcased resilience throughout the doubleheader. In the opener, Savannah Barfield worked eight innings and repeatedly escaped jams, stranding nine UAH runners, while in game two Portanova and Wofford navigated through innings with runners in scoring position, including a third-inning threat and multiple stolen-base situations. On the other side, UAH pitchers Megan Shurtz in game one and Katie Bracken in game two also battled through traffic, keeping Valdosta State off the board for extended stretches before timely hits and defensive miscues proved costly.

With the sweep, Valdosta State secured two key Gulf South Conference victories at home and will look to carry that momentum into the remainder of the weekend series. The Blazers improved to 9-6 overall on the season, while UAH dropped to 17-5. The Blazer return tomorrow at Steel Diamond Park to face UAH again at 1 p.m. ET.