Valdosta State’s Alanna Hadley was chosen the Gulf South Conference Pitcher of the Year. Hadley is currently 22-2 with a 0.66 earned run average.

The Valdosta State softball team continued its hot play Saturday afternoon, beating the West Alabama Tigers 8-0 and 9-2 in at the VSU Softball Complex.

With the wins, the Blazers improved to 17-2 overall and 4-0 in Gulf South Conference play. West Alabama fell to 9-9 overall and 2-2 in the GSC.

“Great wins,” Valdosta State head coach Thomas Macera said. “You know, (Kristen) Skinner, we only beat her 2-0 and 2-1 last year and she took them to the super regional championship game last year. She is a really good pitcher and that is the best we have ever hit here.

“Our defense is unbelievable,” Macera continued. “I mean everybody is playing great. We only made one mistake today. A lot of people contributing here, it is not just us relying on person. Everybody is coming off the bench.”

The Blazers accounted for 15 hits on the day, four of which were home runs.

Freshman outfielder Courtney Albritton continued her impressive season by going 4 for 6 with four runs scored, including a home run in game one, while driving in three runs. She was also walked twice.

“It is just hard work,” Albritton said. “God gave me the talent and I just have to work hard. I am just relaxing more than in the beginning and looking for the inside pitch and driving it.”

Samantha Posey was 2 for 3 at the plate with a run scored and a run batted in. She was walked a total of five times between the two games; four in the second game.

Colette Rollins, Morgan Johnson and Angela O’Connor also homered on the day.

Blazers 8, Tigers 0

Valdosta State dominated game one of the doubleheader, run-ruling the Tigers in six innings.

After a slow start, the Blazers managed two runs in the third inning before adding another in the fifth inning. VSU blew the game open in the sixth inning, scoring five runs in the bottom of the frame.

Meanwhile, pitcher Alanna Hadley was stellar, allowing just two hits in a complete game win. The victory was her eighth of the season, as she finished the day with six strikeouts and just one walk.

“Our offense has peaked so much, so once we got those two runs, I knew that I had all the confidence in the world,” Hadley said. “I knew we wouldn’t stop, it’s just attack mode, all the way…Coach was mixing it up. I was using my curve and my screwball — those are my setup pitches. Everything was working today.”

Albritton homered to take a 1-0 lead for VSU in third inning. The home run was her team-leading seventh of the season. A few batters later, Posey walked, which was followed by a double by Marti Littlefield that scored Posey. The score gave the Blazers a 2-0 lead.

The Blazers added to their lead in the fifth inning, using a single from Albritton to put a runner on base. Two batters later, Posey managed a single up the middle, scoring the freshman outfielder from Tifton and giving VSU a 3-0 lead.

A two-run home run by Rollins in the bottom of the sixth inning put the Blazers far ahead, 5-0. Rollins’ homer was set up after Natalia Morozova reached base on an error by the West Alabama third baseman. Freshman Fran Johnson pinch ran for Morozova and scored the run on the homer.

After a pitching change for UWA, the Blazers used a single from Clare Wamsley and back-to-back walks by Albritton and Morgan Johnson to load the bases. Then, Posey drove the ball to the left fielder, who dropped the ball, allowing all three base runners to score and end the game.

Blazers 9, Tigers 2

Valdosta State finished off the sweep of the Tigers with a 9-2 victory in game two, despite leaving 10 base runners stranded in the contest.

“I have said it all along, I think this has to be, top to bottom, one of the best teams I have coached,” Macera said. “Our talent and athletic ability here is just phenomenal.”

The Blazers wasted little time getting ahead of the Tigers, as Albritton started the bottom of the first inning with a triple to left field. The leadoff hit was followed by three straight walks, which scored Albritton and made the score 1-0. With Johnson, Posey and Littlefield on base, Morozova flew out to shallow left-center field.

The Blazers added a run on the following at-bat, as catcher Ashley Steinhilber forced the fourth walk of the inning, scoring Johnson from third base. Steinhilber’s walk was followed by a pop fly to center field and a Wamsley strikeout, leaving the bases loaded at the end of the inning.

West Alabama knotted the game even at 2-2 in the top of the third inning. Brittany Smith started the inning with a single, which was followed by a throwing error from Posey at third base. After a sacrifice bunt, UWA’s Taylor Beck delivered an RBI single into left field, scoring Smith. The following at-bat, Rebecca Schick flew out to deep left field, but Mandi Headrick was able to tag and score from third.

VSU regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, using a two-run home run to left field by Johnson to take a 4-2 lead. The homer scored Albritton from first base, after she reached on a walk earlier in the inning.

The Blazers added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, using an Angela O’Connor two-run home run to left field that made the score 6-2. O’Connor’s homer came after she pinch-hit for Rollins. The homer scored Steinhilber from first, after she started the inning with a single.

“Again, there are many people in our lineup that are helping us,” Macera said. “We are not just relying on one person to come up with the timely hit. There are so many different people doing it, and that is what makes this team so good.”

Three more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning capped the scoring for VSU, as April Hutchens drove in a run, while was followed by a two-run double by Albritton.

VSU pitcher Courtney Gunby was pulled after 3 2/3 innings pitched, allowing two runs on two hits and two walks. Brianna Hancock replaced her in the circle, allowing one hit, which came in the top of the seventh inning.