MEMPHIS-No. 2 Valdosta State built a 6-0 lead in the first inning and held on for a 10-5 win over the Christian Brothers University Lady Bucs Sunday afternoon.
HOW IT HAPPENED:• The Lady Blazers (29-2, 16-1 GSC) scored all the runs they would need in the top of the first inning. VSU scored six runs on two singles, a hit batter, an error and a pair of home runs.
• CBU (6-21, 2-13) broke through in the bottom of the second when
Lauren Provence (Millington, Tenn./Briarcrest Christian HS) blasted a towering home run off the left-field pole.
• The Lady Blazers added a run on another homer in the top of the third.
• The Lady Bucs puled within three runs in the bottom of the third inning.
Leigh Ward (Oriental, N.C./Pamlico HS) walked and stole second, and
Jennifer Gonzalez (Covina, Calif./Charter Oak HS) hit an infield single. After
Holly Oyhenart (Menifee, Calif./Paloma Valley HS) sacrificed them to second and third,
Taylor Rosa-Ramon (Ewa Beach, Hawaii/James Campbell HS) pushed a bunt single past the pitcher to bring Ward home. Pinch-runner
Alana Byrd (Jackson, Tenn./Liberty Magnet HS) stole second, and she and Gonzalez scored when
Gabrielle Sereika (Rochester, N.Y./Aquinas Institute) laced a two-run single down the left field line.
• VSU added a run in the fourth on a tripe and a sacrifice fly, and they scored two more in the fifth on two walks, a groundout, a double-steal of home and an RBI single.
• The Lady Bucs set the final margin in the bottom of the fifth. Gonzalez singled to right, and Oyhenart followed with a single. Rosa-Ramon laid down a sacrifice bunt, and Sereika hit a sacrifice fly to left field to bring Gonzalez home.
KEY STATS:• Gonzalez went 3-for-4 with a double and two runs.
• Sereika was 1-for-2 with three RBI.
• Provence went 1-for-3 with a homer, a run and one RBI.
NOTABLE:• The Lady Bucs' five runs scored were the second-most allowed in a game by Valdosta this season and the most scored against VSU starter Caitlyn Calhoun (17-1) this season. Provence's home run ended a string of 46 consecutive scoreless innings for Calhoun, the first run she had allowed since March 1.
• Gonzalez has reached base safely in 14 consecutive games and 23 of the team's 27 for the season.
WHAT'S NEXT:The Lady Bucs return to action Wednesday afternoon at 1 p.m. as they host Bethel for a doubleheader.