MONTICELLO, Ark. – The Lady Statesmen put themselves back into the Gulf South Conference West Division title picture with a pair of wins by junior pitcher Edie Oliver, defeating the University of Arkansas-Monticello 1-0 and coming from behind in the top of the seventh inning to win 7-5. 

After cutting the Cotton Blossoms' lead from 5-0 to 5-4 in the top of the fifth inning, the Lady Statesmen (25-17, 13-9 GSC) scored three runs in the seventh inning with two outs on an RBI-single by Paige Silverthorn and a game-winning, two-RBI single by senior Kristi Basso. 

Oliver (17-8), who left the game trailing 5-0 with two outs in the bottom of the fourth, re-entered the game in the top of the seventh before retiring the final three outs of the game for her second win of the day. The left-handed hurler allowed five runs on nine hits and three walks with one strikeout in 4.2 split innings. 

Kate Moreland was stellar in 2.1 innings of relief, allowing no runs on one hit. 

In the fourth, Chelsea Carr drove in Emily Hearn, who led off the inning with a single and went to second on Silverthorn's sacrifice bunt, for Delta State's first run. Brittany Tillery singled to load the bases, and Brittany Eikner drove in Carr and Basso with a two-RBI single to cut the lead to 5-3. After Moreland was hit by a pitch to reload the bases, Kimbo Seale recorded her first-career RBI with a single past the diving Megan Wilson at third base to cut the lead to 5-4. 

Randa Perry (7-4) was charged with the loss after Kayla Jackson gave up Basso's game-winning single before getting the last out. Perry went 6.2 innings, allowing seven runs on 10 hits with three walks and two strikeouts. 

In game one, Oliver pitched a gem, holding the potent Cotton Blossom offense scoreless on five hits with one walk and three strikeouts. 

Tillery came through with the game-winning hit with two outs in the top of the fifth, an RBI-single through the right side scoring Seale from second. 

Jackson (20-5) was charged with her first loss at home, allowing one run on five hits with two walks and five strikeouts in seven innings. 

The Lady Statesmen will host Arkansas Tech Saturday, April 18, with a double-header scheduled to begin at 4:00 p.m. Delta State will celebrate senior day festivities when the two teams square off on Sunday, April 19.