LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The Valdosta State softball team dropped both games of a Gulf South Conference doubleheader to West Alabama on Friday afternoon at the UWA Softball Complex, falling 5-1 in the opener before a late rally by the Tigers handed the Blazers a 4-3 defeat in the nightcap.
With the results, Valdosta State moved to 9-9 overall and 5-3 in Gulf South Conference play, while West Alabama improved to 16-4-1 overall and 7-1 in league action.
Game One: UWA 5, VSU 1
West Alabama used timely hitting and a dominant outing from pitcher Eleanor De Block to claim the first game of the day, 5-1.
The Blazers were limited to just two hits in the contest as De Block struck out nine and allowed only one run across seven innings.
The Tigers broke the scoreless tie in the second inning when ShaKeria Washington launched a solo home run to left center to give West Alabama a 1-0 advantage.
West Alabama extended its lead in the third inning after a walk and hit-by-pitch put runners aboard. Haley Shannon later scored on a sacrifice fly by Ann Marie Stanbridge to make it 2-0.
The Tigers created separation in the sixth inning when La'Taviona Parke delivered the biggest swing of the game, blasting a three-run home run to center field to push the lead to 5-0.
Valdosta State broke through in the seventh inning when
Chloe Eichelberger connected on a solo home run to left field for the Blazers' lone run of the game.
Savannah Barfield took the loss after allowing two runs in two innings before
Toree Wofford came on in relief and worked four innings while surrendering three runs.
Game Two : UWA 4, VSU 3
The nightcap proved to be much more competitive as Valdosta State rallied late before West Alabama walked off with the win in the final inning.
The Blazers struck first in the second inning when
Carly Bogart blasted a solo home run to left center to give VSU a 1-0 lead.
West Alabama answered in the third on a solo home run from Trinity Hatcher and took its first lead in the fourth inning when Ella Watson launched another solo shot to make it 2-1.
Valdosta State regained control in the sixth inning after putting together a clutch rally. Rachel Lee reached base and
Cailyn Cooke moved into scoring position before
Saylor McNearney delivered a two-RBI single to center field that plated both runners and gave the Blazers a 3-2 advantage.
Giselle Portanova kept the Tigers in check through much of the game, allowing just five hits and striking out two over 6.2 innings.
However, West Alabama rallied in the bottom of the seventh. After a two-out single by Jessica Rose and a hit-by-pitch put runners aboard, Haley Shannon lined an RBI single to center to tie the game. Moments later, Trinity Hatcher scored the winning run on a passed ball to give the Tigers a 4-3 victory.
Valdosta State finished the game with 10 hits, led by Bogart's home run and two-hit effort from
Cailyn Cooke, while McNearney drove in two runs in the sixth inning rally.
The Blazers will look to bounce back as the series concludes Saturday afternoon in Livingston. Valdosta State and West Alabama are scheduled to face off in the finale at 1 p.m. E.T., as the Blazers aim to salvage the final game of the Gulf South Conference series against the Tigers
