VALDOSTA, Ga. (Tuesday, March 7, 2023) -- The Barry University softball team suffered a walk-off defeat at the hands of No. 13-ranked Valdosta State University when Jayme Stewart slugged a leadoff home run in the bottom of the 8th inning at Steel's Diamond in Blazer Park in Valdosta, Georgia. It was the third straight one-run loss for the Buccaneers (14-11) in the Peach State. The Blazers improve to 15-3 overall.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Valdosta St. 5, Barry 4 (8 Inn.)
Records: Barry (14-11, 5-4 SSC), Valdosta St. (15-3, 7-2 GSC)
All-Time Series: Valdosta State improves to 5-1 in the all-time series, which met in a non-neutral location for the first time. The teams were scheduled to play in Miami Shores last month, but rain canceled the Sunday outing. Today's game was scheduled after that rain out.

SUMMARY:
Eight Innings | Blazers 5, Buccaneers 4

• B3: Jasmin Stewart doubled with one out. Two straight walks brought Maci Barnhart in from the bullpen. She got the first Blazer she faced to pop out to third base. Katie Proctor walked with the bases loaded for the game's first run. All other runs came via the long ball. | Valdosta St. 1, Barry 0
• B5: Jayme Prandine led off the inning with a walk and Abby Suite followed with a two-run blast to left field. The Blazers loaded the bases with one out, but Barnhart got the next two batters. | Valdosta St. 3, Barry 0
• T6: Becka Mellor reached on an error before Mac Stone-Folmar drilled her team-leading seventh double of the season to left center. Cassandra Lee walked to load the bases and Rylee Lord hammered her team-leading third home run of the season, a grand slam that also vaulted her into the RBI lead on the squad (13). | Barry 4, Valdosta St. 3
• B6: With two outs and the bases empty, Abby Suite smashed her second homer of the game. | Barry 4, Valdosta St. 4
• B8: Jayme Stewart led off the inning with a walk-off home run. | Valdosta St. 5, Barry 4

NOTEWORTHY:

• Rylee Lord's grand slam, the first of the season for the Buccaneers, was her team-leading third home run and gave her a team-best 13 runs batted in.
• Maci Barnhart (L, 6-4) came into the game as a reliever for starter Cassandra Lee in the third inning.
• Cassandra Lee went 3-for-3 at the plate with a walk and three singles.
• Mac Stone-Folmar hit her team-leading seventh double of the season.

ON THE HORIZON:
Barry returns home to Buccaneer Field to host the Patriots of the No. 4-ranked University of Texas Tyler on Saturday, March 11, at 3 p.m.