SALEM, VA – Valdosta State saw a rally in the bottom of the seventh inning fall just short as the Blazers fell 3-2 to West Texas A&M in the NCAA Division II Softball National Championship game Monday afternoon at the Moyer Sports Complex.

The game was a pitcher’s duel up until the final inning as the two teams combined for just three hits over the course of the first six innings of play. Valdosta State threatened in both the fifth and sixth innings as it got two runners on in both frame, but was unable to push a run across.

West Texas A&M finally broke the scoreless tie with two outs in the top of the seventh inning. Jessica Sipe opened the inning with a double to right-center, just the second hit of the game for the Buffaloes. After a pair of pop-ups, Lacey Taylor drew a walk to bring Brittany Gehle to the plate. On a 1-and-1 pitch, Gehle hit a line drive to left field that cleared the fence and the bases for a 3-0 West Texas A&M lead.

Valdosta State, which ended its season at 48-15, continued to fight in the bottom of the inning, but fell just short. After a pair of outs to open the inning, Morgan Butler hit her second home run of the year to straight away centerfield to cut the Blazer deficit to two runs. Heather Robinson followed with a shot over the wall in left field to pull VSU to within a single run, but a strikeout followed to end the game.

Brianna Hancock fell to 25-7 on the season as she allowed just three hits and three runs in a complete game effort. The senior struck out eight batters and walked four. Meanwhile, West Texas A&M’s Rita Hokianga finished the year at 29-3 as she allowed four hits and two runs while striking out eight in a complete game.

“Both teams played a great game,” said Blazer Head Coach Thomas Macera following the game. “Both pitchers really pitched well and were hitting their spots. Both teams had a big seventh inning, their’s was just a little bit bigger than ours.”

Source: Valdosta State University Athletics