SOUTHAVEN, Miss. —
The Valdosta State Blazers are the Gulf South Conference softball champions once again.
Valdosta State put on a dominating performance against Delta State on Sunday, and won its fourth consecutive Gulf South Conference Championship, and sixth overall. The Blazers hammered the Lady Statesmen 9-1 in the championship game.
Valdosta State is now 48-3 this season. The Blazers have been the No. 1 team in Division II for the past five weeks.
Courtney Albritton, the Gulf South Conference Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year, had a big day at the plate. Albritton went a perfect 4 for 4 with two singles, a double and a home run. She scored three runs and drove in two runs. The freshman center fielder was chosen the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
Clare Wamsley also had an impressive day for the Blazers, going 2 for 3 with a triple and her second home run of the season. Wamsley scored two runs and had one RBI. Morgan Johnson was 2 for 3. Marti Littlefield extended her conference RBI record, driving in another run. Ashley Steinhilber had a two-run double in the first inning.
Alanna Hadley, the GSC’s Pitcher of the Year, turned in another dominant performance in the circle, and improved to 26-2. She held Delta State to just one run and four hits, struck out two batters and walked two.
Hadley, Albritton, Johnson and Samantha Posey were named to the GSC All-Tournament team.
The Blazers grabbed the lead quickly in the championship game, scoring three runs in the top of the first. Albritton led off the game with a single and moved to second on Johnson’s sacrifice bunt. One out later, Littlefield walked, then Natalia Morozova drove in Albritton with a single up the middle. Steinhilber followed with a two-run double to left center, scoring Littlefield and Morozova to give Valdosta State an early 3-0 lead.
In the second inning, Albritton blasted a solo home run, increasing the Blazers’ lead to 4-0.
Delta State scored its only run in the bottom of the third inning. Taylor Holland’s sacrifice fly scored Maggie Jackson, making it 4-1.
With two outs in the top of the fourth, Wamsley drilled a triple down the right field line and April Hutchens walked, putting two runners on base. Albritton plated Wamsley with a single, then Johnson singled home Hutchens, giving VSU a 6-1 lead.
The Blazers put the game away with three runs in the sixth. Wamsley led off the inning with a solo home run down the left field line. One out later, Albritton doubled, followed by a single from Johnson. Posey’s sacrifice fly scored Albritton. Then Littlefield extended her conference record for RBIs to 234 with a single to score Johnson.
Hadley held Delta State scoreless in the bottom of the sixth. At that point, the game was ended, due to the mercy rule.
Valdosta State is just the second team to win four consecutive GSC Championships, joining West Alabama, which won four titles between 1988-91. The Blazers are now second on the all-time list in GSC Championships with six, tying West Alabama. Alabama-Huntsville has eight.
The Blazers will likely host an NCAA South Regional next weekend. The regional brackets will be announced today at 10 a.m. on the NCAA website (ncaa.com).
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Valdosta State’s softball team poses with the Gulf South Conference championship trophy after defeating Delta State 9-1 in the championship game on Sunday in Southaven, Miss. submitted photo
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