JACKSON, Tenn. – On Friday afternoon, the Union University softball team split a doubleheader with GSC opponent Valdosta State University. Game one ended in a Union walk off victory 5-4, while game two was a win for Valdosta State 6-5. The Lady Bulldogs are now 1-8 overall (1-1 GSC), and the Blazers are 5-8 overall (1-1 GSC).
The first game was a pitchers’ duel as neither team scored a run until the fifth inning when Valdosta State plated two courtesy of a double from Carly Bogart. The Blazers scored two more in the sixth to take a 4-0 lead into the seventh. From there, it was all Union. Mallory Hildebrand put the Lady Bulldogs on the board with a single to left center that scored Hailey Sipes. Denise Pauletich scored on a wild pitch for Union’s second run. Then Morgan Jennings nailed a double in the right center gap to bring Union within one. With runners on second and third and two outs, Brooke Puckett played the hero, driving a ball over the right fielder’s head for a walk-off double.
Riley Vaughn got the start in the circle for the Lady Bulldogs and threw 5.1 innings, striking out six hitters and allowing the four Valdosta State runs (three earned) on eight walks and three hits. Rylee Moore pitched 1.2 innings in relief and earned her first win as a Lady Bulldog.
In game two, Valdosta State took the lead 1-0 in the top of the third. Union responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning as a result of another double from Puckett and a single to right field from Courtney Marler. The Blazers scored another five runs in the game, and Union added three more. However, it ultimately wasn’t enough to overcome Valdosta State.
Kira Finkley was the starter for Union in the second game, pitching 3.2 innings and allowing five runs (four earned) on three walks and seven hits. Emily Claire Felder threw the final 3.1 innings for the Lady Bulldogs and gave up the last Valdosta State run. Finkley and Felder each struck out three hitters in the game.
Up next, Union and Valdosta State will play the rubber match of the series at Fesmire Softball Field on Feb. 15 at 1:00 p.m.
