Staff reports
May 04, 2008 01:29 am
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SOUTHAVEN, Miss. — The Valdosta State softball team rebounded from an earlier loss and defeated Arkansas-Monticello 3-0 on Saturday night to move on at the Gulf South Conference tournament.
VSU (48-16) will take on the No. 1 seed in the East, Alabama-Huntsville, at 10:30 a.m. Sunday in a semifinal game. If the Lady Blazers lose, they are out of the tournament, but if they win, they will play again at 1 p.m. The rest of VSU's games will be on the GSC broadband.
Saturday night’s game, between two of the GSC’s top-hitting teams, was scoreless through three innings, until Valdosta State took the lead with three runs in the fourth inning.
Robin Williams started the inning by drawing a walk. Pinch runner Kelsey Case and advanced to second on a throwing error. Kristina Ely followed with a single up the middle, driving in Case. Shannon Cleland also singled up the middle, and advanced to second on the throw. Amy Brightwell followed with a double to left field, scoring two runs.
Kristen Lindsey started the game for VSU and held the Cotton Blossoms to only three hits in five innings while striking out three. Brianna Collis came in to pitch the final two innings of the game, allowing only one hit and striking out three batters.
The VSU defense held AUM to only four hits and struck out six, while the Lady Blazers had six hits and three walks.
Earlier Saturday, VSU fell 6-1 to Arkansas Tech.
Ely’s team-leading 19th home run gave the Lady Blazers an early 1-0 lead, but the Lady Blazers only managed one more hit the entire game.
Arkansas Tech (40-15) who finished first in the GSC West, used a three-run home run in the fourth inning to take the lead. Tech scored again the sixth inning off of two hits and one VSU error.
The Lady Blazers did not have an answer to ATU pitcher Dana Aldrich, the West Division Pitcher of the Year. Aldrich struck out 11 VSU batters in the game.
Alex Acosta had VSU’s only other hit, a single in the third.
Ashley Hill (15-4) pitched all seven innings for VSU, giving up 10 hits, two walks and two strikeouts.
In Sunday’s other semifinal, Arkansas Tech faces North Alabama, also at 10:30 a.m.
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