CLINTON, Miss. – The Valdosta State softball team closed out its Gulf South Conference series on a high note Sunday afternoon, defeating Mississippi College 3-1 at the MC Softball Complex.
With the win, the Blazers improved to 15-17 overall, bouncing back after dropping both games of Saturday's doubleheader.
Valdosta State wasted no time getting on the board in the opening inning.
Saylor McNearney led off the game with a solo home run to give the Blazers an early 1-0 advantage.
Mississippi College answered in the bottom half of the inning, tying the game at 1-1 on an RBI single from Blakely Gill that scored Ellie Fryar, who had doubled to open the frame.
The game settled into a pitcher's duel over the next several innings, with both teams held scoreless until the fifth. The Blazers broke through with a key rally to regain control of the contest.
McNearney sparked the inning with a single, followed by a base hit from
Charlotte Phillips to put two runners on.
Chloe Eichelberger then delivered a clutch RBI double to left field, bringing home McNearney to give VSU a 2-1 lead. Later in the inning,
Annalise Buncy was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, forcing in another run to extend the lead to 3-1.
That would be all the offense Valdosta State needed as the pitching staff took over the rest of the way.
Savannah Barfield started the game and worked two innings, allowing one run on three hits.
Madison VanAllen earned the win in relief, tossing two scoreless innings while allowing four hits and striking out two to improve to 5-1 on the season.
Alyssa Vallad closed out the game with three shutout innings, allowing just two hits and striking out two to secure the victory.
Mississippi College threatened at times, collecting nine hits in the game, but the Blazers' pitching staff stranded runners and limited the damage to just one run.
Offensively, Valdosta State recorded seven hits, led by McNearney's 2-for-4 performance with a home run and two runs scored. Eichelberger added three hits, including two doubles and an RBI, while Phillips chipped in with a hit and a run scored.
The Blazers' defense also played a key role late, shutting down a potential Mississippi College rally in the seventh inning to secure the 3-1 win.
The Blazers will return home next Friday to face Auburn Montegomery in a GSC series, with the series opener starting at 5pm E.T. and the doubleheader the following day, Saturday, April 4th, with the first game starting at 12pm E.T.
