DECATUR, Ala. – Trailing 4-1 in the bottom of the fifth, the Lady Statesmen rallied for five runs to defeat North Alabama 6-4 to earn a split on the final day of the Gulf South Conference Crossover, after falling to No. 17 West Florida 16-2 in five innings. 

The Lady Statesmen didn't gain the lead against North Alabama (19-21, 5-12 GSC) until Kristi Basso hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield, giving the Lady Statesmen a 5-4 lead. Chelsea Carr's RBI-groundout stretched the lead to 6-4, and the Edie Oliver kept the Lions off the board to give Delta State its first win of the crossover. 

Oliver (11-7) allowed four runs, two earned, on three hits and two walks in seven innings. 

Jennifer Sexton (10-12) was charged with the loss, allowing six runs on five hits with six walks and four strikeouts in four innings of work. 

In the opening game of the day, nothing went right for the Lady Statesmen after Brittany Eikner's home run in the bottom of the first gave the Lady Statesmen a 1-0 lead over West Florida (39-5, 10-5 GSC). The Lady Argonauts answered for eight runs in the top of the second, with only one being earned. 

West Florida out-hit the Lady Statesmen 14-3 behind a solid pitching performance from Jill Lafrance (20-3), who allowed two runs, one earned, on three hits with five strikeout and two walks in five innings. 

Kate Moreland (3-3) was charged with the loss, allowing 11 runs, four earned, on 11 hits in a split 3.2 innings of work. 

The Lady Statesmen will be in action again Tuesday, April 7, when they travel to Itta Bena to take on Mississippi Valley State.