JACKSON, Tenn. - The Union University softball team defeated No. 24 Valdosta State University 10-1 in the final game of the series Sunday afternoon. The Lady Blazers swept Union in the Saturday double-header, 4-0 and 8-0, despite out-hitting VSU in both games. The Lady Bulldogs are now 10-17 overall and 5-12 in the Gulf South Conference. Valdosta is now 26-8 on the season and 12-6 in conference play.
Union got an early jump on Valdosta in the first inning as
Kristen Pickens hit a two run homer, her first of the season.
Samantha McDaniel repeated Pickens' feat in the second inning as she hit her own two run home run, also her first of the season. Another Union home run came in the third inning, a solo shot from
Haley Barnette to get Union's biggest inning started.
Ashten Petty's single to left field drove in two more runs and a McDaniel sacrifice fly ball to center field scored Union's eighth run of the game. Valdosta scored their only run in the fourth inning on a bases load walk. Union answered with two more runs in the bottom of the frame. A bases loaded walk to
Rosie Red scored the first run, while
Emily Bennett was able to scamper home from second as VSU failed to stop the play.
Union out hit Valdosta 11-4 in the game,
Peyton Mathis led with three hits and McDaniel led with three RBI.
Taylor Griffith (3-2) tossed the first 3.2 innings for the Lady Bulldogs giving up three hits and one run with two walks and two strikeouts.
Gabby Morris came in for relief pitching one-third of an inning.
Taylor Manley tossed the final inning of the game giving, up just one hit.
In the first game Saturday, VSU scored twice in the second and twice in the seventh to earn the 4-0 win. Union out-hit VSU 6-4 in the game but could not get the RBI hit. All four hits for VSU were extra base hits.
Taylor Griffith earned the loss, going 6.2 innings allowing four runs, two earned on four hits with three strikeouts and three walks. McDaniel and Morris each led with two hits in the game for Union.
The second game started with VSU getting all eight runs in the first inning. Union again out-hit the Lady Blazers for the game, 8-7, but could not produce a rally to score any runs. McDaniel led with three hits in the game for Union.
Gabby Morris (6-7) took the loss, going four innings, allowing four run on three hits with five strikeouts and four walks.
Parker Davis relieved Morris in the first inning, tossing one inning, allowing four runs on four hits with a walk. Morris re-entered in the second inning.
Up next for Union is a double header at Ouachita Baptist University Wednesday, March 28 starting at 2 p.m.
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