SOUTHAVEN, Miss. – The Valdosta State Blazers pounded out 11 hits en route to a 9-1 victory over the Delta State University Lady Statesmen in six innings for its fourth straight Gulf South Conference Championship, Sunday at Greenbrook Softball Complex.
 
VSU (48-3) took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning, scoring all three runs with two outs, as Natalia Morozova singled up the middle, which was followed by a two-RBI double by Ashley Steinhilber. The double by Steinhilber was her first hit in 16 tries against the Lady Statesmen.
 
Following a solo home run by Courtney Albritton, which made the score 4-0, the Lady Statesmen (29-31) scored its lone run of the contest on a sacrifice fly by Taylor Holland.
 
The Blazers added two more runs in the fourth with RBI Albritton and Morgan Johnson.
 
VSU scored the final three runs of the game in the top of the sixth inning with a solo home run by Clare Wamsley, a sacrifice fly by Samantha Posey, and an RBI single by Marti Littlefield.
 
Blazer pitcher Alanna Hadley then retired DSU in order in the bottom of the sixth to win the game via the eight run mercy rule.
 
Brittany Gonzales (16-11) allowed nine runs on 11 hits in the loss. Hadley (26-2) allowed one run on four DSU hits.
 
Albritton (4-for-4) was named Most Outstanding Player of the tournament, as she led the way for VSU, finishing a triple shy of the cycle. Johnson and Wamsley also had two hits for the Blazers.
 
Brook Cline, Amber Adcock and Gonzales were all named to the All-Tournament team for the Lady Statesmen.
 
DSU finished 11-4 in its last 15 games, which included seven straight GSC victories, and wins over No. 23 Alabama Huntsville and No. 1 Valdosta State, which snapped a GSC record 36 game win streak.