VSU can’t overcome UAH’s offense

Published 4:53 pm Monday, March 12, 2018

The Valdosta State softball team couldn’t overcome Alabama-Huntsville’s offense and fell 8-4 in a Gulf South Conference series finale at Steel’s Diamond at Blazer Park on Sunday.

Freshman Cassey Cornelius kicked off the contest with a bang after driving in two second inning runs with a two-run blast, but a grand slam by UAH designated hitter Jada Hayes just two innings later negated the runs and put the Chargers on top 4-2.

In the bottom of the same inning, the Blazers fired back after senior Brandy Morgan launched a two-run bomb over the center field wall to tie the game at 4-4. Lacey Crandall, who had reached earlier in the half inning on an infield single, represented one of Morgan’s two RBIs.

The score remained tied until the top of the sixth, when the Chargers used three hits to plate two runs and force Kathryn Carter out of the game. One inning later, UAH added a pair of insurance runs with two singles and a Blazer error, which put the game out of reach.

Carter suffered the loss to fall to 5-3 on the season, while Alabama-Huntsville’s Hayes notched the win in relief to improve to 2-0. The Blazers fell to 17-7 overall with the loss, while Huntsville improved to 18-7.

The Blazers will aim to right the ship Tuesday with a non-conference matchup on the road against Georgia Southwestern. The doubleheader is slated for a 3 p.m. first pitch in Americus.