ALBANY —
The Valdosta State offense exploded for 25 runs on 27 hits, while the pitching staff threw a pair of no-hitters as the Blazers defeated Albany State 16-0 and 9-0 in non-conference softball action at the ASU Softball Field Tuesday afternoon.
With the two wins, Valdosta State improved to 11-1 on the season.
The Blazers scored early and often in the first game.
Courtney Albritton opened the game with an inside-the-park home run. Then VSU added seven more runs in the second. Hannah Strickland and Morgan Johnson delivered the big hits in the second inning. Strickland drove in two runs with a double, while Johnson hit a bases loaded double.
Valdosta State pushed its advantage to 13-0 in the third inning. Albritton and Karson King had run-scoring singles, while Fran Johnson hit a two-run double and Morgan Johnson added a sacrifice fly. Albritton drove in another run with a double, and Morgan Johnson added two more runs to the Blazers’ total with a two-run double in the fourth.
Albany State's only base runners came in the third inning on a hit by pitch and an error, but a sacrifice bunt, a strikeout and a ground out ended the threat.
Valdosta State pitcher Kenzi Reed improved to 3-0 on the season. She allowed no hits and struck out four batters in her five innings of work.
The Golden Rams got runners on base earlier in game 2, but still had no success. A hit by pitch and a sacrifice bunt went for naught in the first inning, while a base on balls in the second was erased on a double play. ASU also got runners on in the third and fifth innings via walks, but neither runner advanced to second base.
Meanwhile, the VSU offense picked up where it left off in game 1. The Blazers scored two runs in the first on a King base hit and a Fran Johnson sacrifice fly.
Valdosta State added six unearned runs in the second, as it took advantage of a two-out error. The first run of the inning scored on the error, while Sarah Vaughn added a three-run triple and Kiley Rusen a two-run single.
The final Blazer run of the game came in the fourth, when Ashley Steinhilber doubled home Vaughn.
VSU’s Brianna Hancock improved to 4-0. She allowed no hits and struck out seven in five innings.
Steinhilber was a perfect 5 for 5 with four runs scored on the day. Vaughn, Altman and Albritton, who scored five times and drove in three runs, all had four hits.
Local Sports
Blazers rout Albany State, 16-0 and 9-0
Reed, Hancock pitch no-hitters for VSU in a doubleheader sweep
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Prince Automotive donates new baseball equipment
Prince Automotive of Valdosta is supporting the Valdosta community through its partnership with the Valdosta/Lowndes County Recreation Department. The dealership has joined forces with the national Chevrolet Youth Baseball program to provide new equipment, instructional clinics, and a monetary donation.
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Needmore holds final races before big Memorial Day weekend
Saturday night racing at Needmore Speedway saw some new faces in victory lane.
That wasn’t the case in the Late Model division, as Valdosta's Gene Ross drove to victory once again, but not without some close competition from Steven Roberts who came in second.
In the Limited Late Model class, it was another win for Cole Exum, with Gene Maine finishing second in the NAPA Auto Parts special. -
VSU softball wins South Region, headed to nationals
For the third time in four years, and second in a row, Valdosta State’s softball team will play in the national championship tournament.
The Blazers won their third South Region championship Saturday, beating Alabama-Huntsville 8-3 in game three of the best-of-three series at Steel’s Diamond at Blazer Park. -
VSU baseball season comes to an end
Delta State scored seven unanswered runs to defeat Valdosta State 7-2 in an elimination game of the NCAA South Region Tournament at the UT Baseball Field Saturday afternoon.
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Blazers take 1-0 series lead
Angela O’Connor launched a pinch-hit two-run home run over the left-field fence, tying the game against Alabama-Huntsville in the bottom of the sixth inning, and sparking the Blazers and their fans along the way.
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Blazer baseball stays alive, beats Stillman
Valdosta State scored five runs in the first inning to defeat Stillman 6-2 in an elimination game of the NCAA South Region Tournament at UT Baseball Field Friday morning.
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Lowndes’ Harwell, Wortham sign with Valdosta State
Lowndes’ Ty Harwell and David Wortham won’t have to go far to play college baseball.
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Blazers host respected rival UAH in Super Regional
One would expect a matchup featuring two of the top softball programs in Division II to come in the national championship game.
Unfortunately for Valdosta State and Alabama-Huntsville, who have combined to appear in four straight national championship games, they won’t be meeting in title game on Memorial Day in Salem, Va. -
Pop Warner Football coming to Valdosta
Pop Warner Football is coming to Valdosta.
The nationally known organization that puts an emphasis on education and developing American youth has been established in the Valdosta area and will begin playing football this August. -
Blazers lose to Delta State, fall to loser’s bracket
If the Valdosta State baseball team is going to win the South Region Tournament, the Blazers going to have to do it from the loser’s bracket.
The Blazers (33-17) dropped their first game of the tournament Thursday, falling to Delta State 4-2 at UT Baseball Stadium.
VSU will face Stillman College, which lost to No. 1 seed and tournament host Tampa Thursday, Friday at 11 a.m. to advance to the weekend portion of the tournament. The loser will be eliminated. - More Local Sports Headlines
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