PENSACOLA, Fla. —
Valdosta State’s softball team keeps winning games.
The Blazers increased their Gulf South Conference record winning streak to 35 games on Sunday, sweeping a doubleheader with West Florida. Valdosta State won the first game 5-2, then completed the sweep with a 4-3 win in game 2.
The Blazers are now 41-2 this season, and a perfect 24-0 in Gulf South Conference play. They are the No. 1 team in Division II.
Courtney Albritton led VSU in hitting with four hits in six at bats, and scored a run. Natalia Morozova tallied three hits in seven at-bats. April Hutchens was 2 for 5 with a double, two runs scored and three RBIs. Also picking up RBIs on Sunday were Clare Wamsley, Angela O’Connor, Samantha Posey and Morgan Johnson.
In game 1, the Blazers took an early lead with two runs in the second inning. After Ashley Steinhilber was hit by a pitch for the 13th time this season, O’Connor reached on an error. Wamsley laid down a bunt, and Steinhilber ran home to score. Later in the inning, Johnson reached on a fielder’s choice, which scored pinch runner April Collins to give VSU a 2-0 lead.
West Florida scored a run in the bottom of the second.
But the Blazers answered with three third-inning runs. Marti Littlefield singled up the middle and Steinhilber reached on an error. O’Connor singled to left to plate Littlefield. Then Steinhilber and O’Connor scored on Hutchens’ single up the middle, which gave Valdosta State a 5-1 lead.
The Argonauts scored a run in the seventh inning, which made the final score 5-2.
Valdosta State pitcher Alanna Hadley improved to 21-1 on the season. Hadley pitched a complete game, gave up two runs and four hits, struck out seven and walked three.
In game 2, the Blazers fell behind early, but took the lead with two runs in the third. Hutchens reached on a fielder’s choice and Albritton singled. Hutchens scored on a single by Johnson, then Albritton came home on a fielder’s choice by Posey, giving VSU a 2-1 lead.
That 2-1 advantage was short-lived, however. West Florida tied the score in the bottom of the third, and took the lead with a run in the fifth.
But the Blazers responded with a two-run sixth inning. O’Connor led off with a single and moved to second on a Wamsley sacrifice bunt. Hutchens knocked in O’Connor with a double to left, and scored on a Posey double, giving VSU a 4-3 lead. Valdosta State pitcher Brianna Hancock held the Argonauts scoreless the rest of the way, and closed out the Blazers’ 35th consecutive win.
Hancock (13-1) struck out four, walked none and gave up eight hits and two earned runs in seven innings.
Valdosta State returns home next weekend to host Christian Brothers on Saturday and Delta State on Sunday.
Local Sports
35 in a row: VSU softball wins 2 more
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