MEMPHIS. - No. 10 Valdosta State plated 30 combined runs to help it earn a doubleheader sweep of the Christian Brothers University softball team, on Saturday afternoon, at Bland Field.
VSU took the opener 11-1 (6), and finished the day by topping the Lady Bucs in a 19-7 (6) slugfest.
GAME ONE: VSU 11 (22-4, 11-2 GSC) CBU 1 (6-17, 1-9 GSC) (6)
GAME CHANGER:
VSU scored five of its 11 runs via home run.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- VSU outhit the Lady Bucs 11-4.
- Four different Lady Bucs had hits.
- Reese Earleywine drove in the lone CBU run.
- VSU starting pitcher Samantha Richards struck out eight batters.
- CBU starter Emily Schooler struck out five in three innings.
KEY PLAYS:
After two scoreless innings, VSU struck first with four runs in the third.
Leading 6-0, after five, the Blazers plated five runs on four hits, including a pair of home runs.
CBU scored its lone run of the game in the sixth, when pinch hitter
Reese Earleywine hit a rocket to shortstop that scored
Cara Alexander.
GAME TWO: VSU 19 (23-4, 12-2 GSC) CBU 7 (6-18, 1-10 GSC) (6)
GAME CHANGER:
After CBU cut an 11-1 lead to 11-7, VSU scored eight unanswered runs to win the game.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
KEY PLAYS:
CBU took a 1-0 lead in the first when Gross smacked a home run to left field.
VSU answered with a pair of runs in the second.
The visitors then exploded for nine runs, on six hits, to take a an 11-1 lead after 2.5 innings.
CBU answered right back with two runs in the third and four in the fourth.
The two-run home run by Candies cut the deficit to 11-7 in the fourth.
VSU struck back with two in the fifth and six in the sixth to finish the game.
NOTABLES:
The three hits for Gross are a career-high.
The three RBIs for Candies tied a career-high, and the home run was the first of her collegiate career.
UP NEXT:
The Lady Bucs are scheduled to return to action on Sunday, March 19 when they wrap up the series with Valdosta State. First pitch is scheduled for noon.
