VALDOSTA, Ga. – In the rubber match between Auburn University at Montgomery and #16 Valdosta State junior pitcher Chanel Newcomer gave up only one run on five hits to help lead her team to a 5-1 victory over the home-standing Blazers in Gulf South Conference softball action on Sunday afternoon, as the Warhawks earn a 2-1 series victory over VSU.
 
NOTES
- AUM improves to 31-9 on the season with an 11-7 mark in the GSC.
- VSU falls to 23-11 overall and 8-9 in league games.
- The Warhawks are now 3-4 lifetime against VSU.
- AUM is also 5-5 this season against nationally-ranked opponents.
- This weekend marks the second week in a row the Warhawks have won a GSC series against a Top-25 team, having earned a 2-1 series win against #21 Mississippi College last weekend.
 
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
- Newcomer allowed one run on five hits with a pair of strikeouts to improve to 9-3 on the season for the Orange & Black.
- Shortstop Olivia Aycock was 2-for-4 at the plate with a run scored and a run batted in. She also tallied four putouts and two assists on defense.
- Sophomore Morgan Duschell was also 2-for-4 offensively with a RBI, recording six putouts on defense in left field.
- Designated player Savanna Holmes went 2-for-3 with a run scored, a RBI and a stolen base on the day.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- AUM drew first blood on the day, plating a pair of runs in the top of the second. With a runner on second Aycock reached base on a throwing error which allowed Holmes to score from second to put the visitors up 1-0. After Aycock advanced to second Duschell singled through the left side to get her home and give the Orange & Black a 2-0 lead.
- The Warhawks went up 3-0 in the third when Caroline Burns reached base on an error by the pitcher that saw Burns advance to second and Michaelyn Foster to score from first.
- The Blazers would answer with a run in the bottom of the third, scoring one run on a Haley Garrett single up the middle that scored Samantha Richards from second. After three AUM held a 3-1 advantage.
- The visitors scored two more in the top of the fifth, plating runs on a Burn single up the middle and a Holmes base knock to left to give AUM a 5-1 lead.
- VSU would be unable to score any more runs the rest of the way, giving the Warhawks the four-run victory.
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- The Warhawks scored five runs on nine hits with one error.
- The Blazers scored one run on five hits with three errors.
- Caylie Van Auken was credited with the loss to fall to 8-4 this season. Van Auken allowed five runs (one earned) on nine hits with two walks and four K's.

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