February 1, 2018

ALBANY, GA- Valdosta State University defeated Albany State University in the teams' season openers on Thursday afternoon at West Campus Arena.
The Blazers topped the Golden Rams 9-4 in game one and captured an 8-2 triumph in the nightcap.
 
Valdosta 9 Albany State 4 (game one)

Valdosta State scattered 14 hits, including two home runs as the Blazers defeated the Golden Rams 9-4 in the 2018 softball season opener.

Taylor Hartenbach went 3 for 4, including a walk and a solo shot which put the Blazers on the board first in the top of the first inning. Four batters later Haley Garret's RBI double drove in Heather Robinson to give VSU a 2-0 lead.

Aryn McGowan, who was the Rams' starting pitcher in game one, answered with a solo homer to lead off the second inning. The Blazers went on to score in each of their remaining at bats, including three runs in their half of the third inning to go up 5-1.

The Rams scored three runs in the bottom of the 5^th, two of which came on a two out double by Brianna Murillo.

Valdosta 8 Albany State 2 (game two)

The Blazers built an 8-0 lead and never looked back to capture a 8-2 win in game two of the doubleheader.

Kameron Coggins faced 20 batters, gave up 6 hits and struck out four over 5 complete innings as VSU's starter. The Blazers got home runs from Lacey Crandall and Jessica Mohl as a part of a four-run 6^th inning that put the score at 8-0.

The Rams got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the 6^th courtesy of a solo homer from Brianna Murillo. In their final at bat, the Lady Rams got another run and managed to load the bases but failed to score. ASU had its chances but was not able to capitalize as they left 10 runners stranded in game two.

ASU will hit the field tomorrow against Lynn University. The doubleheader is scheduled for a 2pm start on West Campus.