Valdosta, Ga. – The Valdosta State softball team hits the road this weekend for a Gulf South Conference series against Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee. The three-game set is scheduled to begin Friday, April 10 at 4 p.m. ET, followed by a Saturday doubleheader on April 11 starting at 1 p.m. ET.
The Blazers enter the weekend riding momentum after a midweek sweep of Georgia Southwestern at Steel's Diamond. Valdosta State showcased both resilience and offensive firepower in the twin bill, rallying for a 5–4 walk-off victory in game one before dominating game two with a 10–1 run-rule win.
In the opener, the Blazers erased a 4–1 deficit with a five-hit third inning, highlighted by RBIs from
Charlotte Phillips,
Carly Bogart, and Rachel Lee. The game remained tied until the seventh, when
Saylor McNearney delivered a walk-off home run to secure the victory. McNearney finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored, while
Cailyn Cooke added a perfect 2-for-2 effort at the plate. In the circle,
Alyssa Vallad struck out seven over six innings, and
Toree Wofford closed the door with a scoreless seventh inning.
Valdosta State carried that momentum into game two, where the offense erupted early. Phillips opened the scoring with a two-run home run in the first inning, and McNearney followed with a grand slam in the second to give the Blazers a commanding lead.
Evie Pitts later added a home run as part of a balanced offensive attack that produced 10 runs on seven hits. In the circle,
Giselle Portanova continued her strong play, tossing a complete-game five-inning effort while allowing just one run on five hits.
With the sweep, Valdosta State improved to 18–19 overall and will look to carry that momentum into conference play this weekend.
Lee University enters the series looking to rebound after a tough stretch, having dropped four straight games in a Gulf South Conference series against West Florida. The Lady Flames now sit at 13–28 overall and 6–15 in GSC play. Despite early flashes, including a two-run first inning in the series opener and a solo home run from Alyson Jarvi in game one of Friday's doubleheader, Lee struggled to maintain consistency on both sides of the ball.
Offensively, Lee has been led by players such as Hailey Simco, Madison Pinzon, and Katie Hastings, while Addi Lewis contributed multiple RBIs in the series opener. However, the Lady Flames have had difficulty sustaining rallies, combining for limited run production across the three games. In the circle, Lee has relied on a combination of Kaylee Underwood, Layne Bailey, and Sadie Winsett, but the staff has faced challenges containing opposing offenses during their recent skid.
The weekend matchup presents an opportunity for Valdosta State to build on its recent success and gain ground in the Gulf South Conference standings. The Blazers will look to continue their offensive surge and rely on strong pitching performances as they take on a Lee squad eager to bounce back on its home field.
First pitch for Friday's series opener is set for 4 p.m. ET in Cleveland, Tennessee, with the series concluding Saturday afternoon.