OXFORD, Ala. - It was a classic pitcher's duel to open the Gulf South Conference Tournament as the No. 8 Blazers edged the Lee softball team, 3-1 on Thursday morning from Choccolocco Park.

The Lady Flames (17-22) will drop into the loser's bracket of the tournament and face No.14 Alabama Huntsville in an elimination game at 4:30 p.m.

Freshman Madison Barnett (7-8) gave a gutsy performance in the circle as she limited the league's top offense to just six hits while striking out nine in six innings of work. Barnett walked two batters in the first but did not surrender another free pass the rest of the game. In 105 innings this season she has walked just 17 batters. 

"I thought Madison did a really good job. She worked around some nerves in the first inning and then she settled in against a really good offense," said head coach Emily Russell. "Offensively, we came up against the top pitcher in our league and she threw well but we had some chances which I think gives us some confidence moving into tonight."

Samantha Richards showcased why she was named the GSC Pitcher of the Year as she tossed a complete game, allowing just one run on six hits to go along with 11 punch outs. Richards worked out of a two-on, no out jam in the first inning to keep the Lady Flames off the board early. 

Annalyn Ormsby ripped a two-run single to left to get the Lee on the board in the sixth. All-GSC shortstop Kayla Louie set the table with a leadoff single and came around to score. Louie and Lily Hatcher went 4-for-6 at the top of the order for the Lady Flames.

Valdosta State scored a run in the first on an RBI double by Aniston Gano. Nicole Pennington made it 2-0 in the third as she drilled her nation-leading 22nd home run to center. The final Blazer tally came in the fifth on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Pennington. 

The Blazers will square off with the sixth-seeded Mississippi College Choctaws in a winner's bracket matchup tonight at 7 p.m. The Choctaws knocked off the third-seeded Chargers, 4-3. Mississippi College gunned down the tying run at the plate in the bottom of the seventh to secure the victory. 

Fans can watch the game tonight by purchasing a subscription to FloSports. For information how to set up an account click HERE. Live Stats are available HERE. For live in-game updates and highlights make sure to follow @LeeUSoftball on Twitter.