Lady Blazers sweep Saturday; Advance to College World Series
VALDOSTA— The No. 2 Valdosta State Lady Blazers entered Saturday down one game in a best of three series with the Cotton Blossoms of Arkansas-Monticello.

That did not bother Valdosta State.

The Lady Blazers swept the day as they took game one 4-3 and game two 2-1 to win the series 2-1 and book a trip the NCAA Division II Softball Elite Eight in Saint Joseph Missouri.

The Lady Blazers took game two of the three game series, 4-3 as they took an early 2-1 lead in the top of the third inning and added insurance runs in the top of the fifth and sixth innings as they jumped out to a 4-1 lead.

However the Cotton Blossoms of Arkansas-Monticello came thundering back in the bottom of the seventh inning as they brought the VSU lead to just one run, 4-3, with just one out.

With a runner at second, VSU pitcher Margaret Carter settled down and recorded the final two outs to secure the VSU win and even the South Super Regional at 1-1.

In the opening game, VSU sophomore slugger Marti Littlefield drove in two Lady Blazer runs while also scoring a run as she proved to be the top offensive performer for VSU in the opening game on Saturday.

In the series deciding game three Valdosta State took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning as Stephanie Carlson scored on an April Hutchens sacrifice fly-out to center field just moments before Ariel Shaw was tagged out at third to end the inning.

After two innings of shutout softball, Arkansas-Monticello made their move as they knotted the score up at 1-1 in the top of the fifth inning as Kendra White scored on a Katie Bowman RBI fielder’s choice, just moments before Emilie Hobbs was tagged out at home by VSU catcher Alyssa Shirey.

Valdosta State was quick to answer.

The Lady Blazers loaded the bases as Stephanie Carlson stepped into the batter’s box. After taking a ball on her first pitch, Carlson was pelted with a ball on the elbow which scored the game wining run for Valdosta State as VSU pitcher Margaret Carter shut down UAM in the top of the seventh inning to secure the win for VSU.

The berth to the NCAA Division II Softball Elite Eight, is the first in school history for Valdosta State.

Lady Blazers fall 5-1 in longest game of year
VALDOSTA- It took 12 innings of softball on Friday night at the VSU softball complex for someone to break the 1-1 tie that stood between the VSU Lady Blazers and the UAM Cotton Blossoms in the opening game of the Super Regional matchup of the Division II NCAA tournament.

Unfortunately for VSU, the tie was broken by a four run inning by UAM in the top 12th which propelled the Cotton Blossoms to a 5-1 victory and a 1-0 series lead over the Gulf South Conference champion Valdosta State Lady Blazers.

The big four run inning by UAM was started when Kayla Jackson sac-fly to center field that plated Miranda Perry to start the scoring in the inning, which was followed by a Becca Tipton single which plated Katie Bowman. Sarah Hayslip finished the scoring inning with her second homerun of the game, this time a two run shot over the left field fence.

Valdosta State had no answer in the bottom of the twelfth inning to UAM as Melessa Jackson and Amber Shaw struck out to start the inning as Morgan Johnson ended the game with a fly-out.

The two teams got to the 1-1 tie when Valdosta State took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the opening inning, however UAM came back with a Sarah Hayslip homerun to tie the game at 1-1 in the top of the second inning.

Valdosta State starting pitcher Holly Satterfield took the loss on Friday night as she saw her record fall to 25-3 on the season as she allowed five runs on 14 hits in 11 2/3 innings pitched.

On the day, VSU pitcher Margaret Carter earned both victories in the pitching circle.

The Lady Blazers will need to sweep on Saturday to advance to the Elite 8 in Saint Joseph, Miss., while the Cotton Blossoms need just one win. Game two of the series is set to begin on Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m.