Shane Thomas | The Valdosta Daily TimesValdosta State short stop Natalia Bellinger (7) congratulates pitcher Caylie Van Auken (24) after a strikeout during Game 2 of a doubleheader against Auburn Montgomery Saturday at Steel’s Diamond. Van Auken struck out 13 in a 7-2 win.

VALDOSTA –– The No. 16 Valdosta State softball team looks to get back on the winning track as it travels to a non-conference doubleheader at Albany State today. First pitch is set for 5 p.m.

Fans can access links to live stats at vstateblazers.com on the softball schedule page. Check back with the site for a complete recap of the games this evening.

The Blazers (23-11, 8-9 GSC) went 3-2 last week, but are coming off a disappointing 1-2 series at home against Auburn Montgomery. Junior Lacey Crandall went 5 of 9 (.556) from the plate with one RBI to lead the team. VSU hit .227 for the series, with 12 runs scored, 17 hits, one home run and 11 RBI. The Blazers held AUM to a .233 average, allowing 12 runs – seven earned, walked two and fanned 25. Sophomore Caylie Van Auken went 1-1 with a 1.00 ERA in 14 innings with two starts. She allowed 14 hits, seven runs – two earned, walked two and fanned 17.

Albany State enters with a 13-21 record, but has won its last four games and is 10-2 in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The Golden Rams are led by Lavette Tucker at a .392 clip as she is 38 of 97 from the dish with 19 runs scored, nine doubles, three triples and five home runs, while driving in 22. She is slugging .701 to lead the team and is reaching base at a .440 clip. Glory Seay is second in average at a .382 mark, with 26 hits, nine doubles, three home runs and 20 RBI.

The Golden Rams are hitting .286 for the season with 247 hits, 160 runs, 40 doubles, 13 triples, 13 home runs and 140 RBI. ASU is slugging .408 and reaching base at a .370 clip, while going 22 of 31 in stolen bases. On the mound, the team has a 6.89 ERA in 213 innings, allowing 308 hits, 187 runs – 163 earned, walked 75 and fanned 129 as teams are hitting .336 against it. Aryn McGowan is 5-11 with a 5.54 ERA in 117 innings, allowing 139 hits, 83 runs, 72 earned, walked 56 and fanned 96. Lauren Lowery is 7-10 with an 8.53 ERA in 96 innings, allowing 169 hits, 104 runs – 91 earned, walked 19 and fanned 33.

The Blazers are hitting .273 for the season with 236 hits, 182 runs, 41 doubles, three triples, 39 home runs and 157 RBI. The team is slugging .463 with a .375 on base percentage, while going 46 of 51 in stolen bases. VSU has 32 errors on the year, leading to 19 unearned runs.

Junior Haley Garrett leads the team with a .337 average on 31 of 92, while scoring 27 runs with four doubles, seven home runs and 16 RBI. She is slugging .609 and reaching base at a .408 clip. Sophomore Fallyn Johnson is second in average at a .314 clip. Junior Logan Hill leads the team with eight doubles, while junior Taylor Strickland has a team-high three triples.

In the circle, VSU has a 2.38 ERA in 224 innings, allowing 208 hits, 95 runs – 76 earned, walked just 32 and fanned 247 as teams are hitting .238 against it. Van Auken has a 1.71 ERA with an 8-4 record in 94 innings, allowing 86 hits, 31 runs – 23 earned, walked 12 and fanned 110. Senior Kasie Johnson is 11-3 with a 2.53 ERA in 83 innings, allowing 77 hits, 34 runs – 30 earned, walked 14 and fanned 100. Giovanna Watt is 3-3 in 14 appearances with three starts.

Following the doubleheader, VSU continues on the road at Montevallo in a key Gulf South Conference series this weekend. The Blazers then return home to face Christian Brothers April 13-14 at Steel’s Diamond.