VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State softball team defeated Lander twice Thursday in a non-conference doubleheader. The Blazers won the first game, 9-2, and took the night cap, 10-4.

Valdosta State improves to 19-8 overall, while Lander moves to 6-16.

In the first game, Lander's M.K. Pegram suffered the loss with six walks and five earned runs on eight hits in 5.2 innings.

Valdosta State took a 1-0 lead on Courtney Albritton's solo home run over the left field fence, then she drove in Hannah Strickland in the second to make it 2-0.

Lander tied the game at 2-all in the fourth when MaKenzie Smith singled in Sarah Fuller and Taylor Donson.

The Blazers answered with four runs in the bottom of the inning on RBI doubles by Fran Johnson and Albritton, while Shelby Altman and Strickland scored on bases-loaded walks.

Valdosta State added three more runs in the sixth on Kelly Gordon's RBI single and Johnson's two-run homer.

Smith had two hits for Lander.

For Valdosta State, Albritton went 3-for-3, Johnson 2-for-4, and Altman 2-for-3.

In the second game, Maci Fletcher earned the win for Valdosta State with two strikeouts and two earned runs on nine hits in the complete seven innings.

Lander's Tyler Riendeau took the loss with one strikeout, one walk and four earned runs on 10 hits in 4.1 innings.

Lander jumped out to a 3-0 second-inning lead when Sarah Fuller scored on a throwing error, and Smith and Melanie Davis had RBI singles.

The Bearcats went up 4-0 in the third after Taylor Donson scored on an Aubrey Lamar groundout.

Valdosta cut it to 4-1 in the third when Johnson went home on a wild pitch, then took a 6-4 lead in the fourth after Brandi Blount scored on another wild pitch, Kelly Gordon's sacrifice fly sent Strickland home, Johnson's RBI single plated Heather Robinson, and Albritton and Johnson advanced on a throwing error.

Altman's two-run homer in the fifth gave Valdosta an 8-4 advantage, then Strickland scored on a wild pitch.

The Blazers completed the scoring in the sixth on Gordon's RBI single.

For Lander, Donson batted 3-for-3 and Smith 2-for-3.