The Valdosta State softball team used six extra-base hits Sunday to slug out an 8-5 victory and seal a weekend sweep of West Alabama in Gulf South Conference action in Livingston, Ala.

Two of Valdosta State’s extra-base hits came in the first two at-bats of the game after Jessica Mohl and Taylor Hartenbach paired up for back-to-back doubles and an early 1-0 advantage. After Brandy Morgan pushed Hartenbach to third with a sacrifice bunt one batter later, Logan Hill opened VSU’s lead up to 2-0 after an RBI single later in the half-inning.

West Alabama returned fire in the bottom of the opening frame, as an error and two hits allowed UWA pull in front with three runs scored. The Blazers promptly evened the game at 3-3 in the top of the second, however, after Mohl drove in Danielle Patterson with a two-out triple to right field. The triple marked Mohl’s fourth of the season and lifted her up to two better than the next highest total among all current GSC players.

After a West Alabama single chased Blazer starter Kasie Johnson in the bottom of the inning, Kathryn Carter came in and slammed the second inning door to preserve the tie score.

The Blazers reclaimed the lead in the top of the third inning, when Heather Robinson blasted her second homer of the weekend to left field to put VSU on top 4-3. The lead didn’t last long though, as Audrey Diekmann struck for a two-run shot in the bottom of the same inning.

Trailing 4-5, Valdosta State continued their offensive onslaught in the top of the fifth with a leadoff solo shot off of the bat of Hartenbach. The game-tying blast marked Hartenbach’s seventh of the season, which propelled her into the league lead in home runs hit so far in 2018.

The top of the sixth was VSU’s biggest offensive inning, as the red and black sent nine batters to the plate and racked up four hits to plate three runs. Cassey Cornelius started the rally with a one-out single before passing it off to Patterson, who followed with a single of her own. After a UWA pitching change, Mohl greeted Nora Keehn with an RBI-double, marking Mohl’s third hit of the game. Hartenbach and Morgan drew back-to-back walks for an additional run, and Hill came up in the clutch with a base hit for her second two-out RBI of the contest to put VSU in front 8-5.

West Alabama made a bid for a seventh inning rally with a leadoff single by Tiger second baseman Kendall Johnson, but Cornelius cut her down trying to take second base. Carter induced two follow-up ground balls to third, and Mohl took care of business to seal the GSC sweep.

With the win, Valdosta State improved to 17-4 overall and 7-2 in GSC play on the season. The Tigers fell to 6-16 overall and dropped to 2-7 against league opponents. Carter’s win lifted the sophomore to 5-1 on the year in the circle.

GAME POSTPONED: Valdosta State’s matchup against Palm Beach Atlantic has been postponed due to the anticipation of rainy weather conditions. As a result, the Blazers will turn their attention to the weekend, when the team will welcome Alabama-Huntsville to town for a weekend GSC series. The three-game set kicks off Saturday with a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m.