CLEVELAND –The season opener went off without a snag, as the Delta State University Lady Statesmen (2-0) completed the season-opening sweep of Louisiana State University-Alexandria (1-5) 12-3 and 12-7 at University Field before a crowd of 189.

In game one, the Lady Statesmen jumped out t a quick 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first off of a pair of two-RBI doubles by Courtney Clark and Kim Hensley. DSU had a couple of additional chances, but ended the inning with the bases loaded.

Delta State made it 5-0 in the second. Brittany Eikner led off the inning with a single followed by a single to right from Brooke Allgood moving Eikner to third. Two outs later, Eikner and Allgood successfully pulled off a double steal to score the run.

The Generals made it 5-2 in the top of te third, taking advantage of an error in the infield with an RBI double by Amy Leonard and an RBI single by Erin Brossett.

LSU-Alexandria cut the lead to two runs, 5-3, in the top of the fifth after a leadoff double by Calla Willoughby and an RBI single by pinch-hitter Joey Dixon.

Delta State put the game away in the bottom of the fifth, exploding for seven runs and ending the game via run rule. In the inning, Eikner delivered a bases-clearing, three RBI double to make it 8-3. Allgood made it 9-3 with an RBI single to right and Emily Hearn put it in the books with a three RBI double off the right field wall to make the final 12-3.

Lady Statesmen senior left-hander Edie Oliver (1-0) earned the win after tossing 5.0 innings, allowing three runs, two earned, on seven hits with two walks and five strikeouts. Lauren Griffin (0-1) took the loss for LSU-Alexandria, pitching 4.1 innings allowing seven earned runs with five walks and no strikeouts.

In game two, the Generals jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first on Brittany Trahan's three-run home run, her first of the season, to left field.

Taylor Hughes, a true freshman from Morton, collected her first career RBI with a single in the second, scoring Kim Hensley from second base.

Trahan extended the lead for the Generals in the top of the third with a two-run home run over the right field deck.

DSU took control in the bottom of the third, as the Lady Statesmen plated seven runs behind Eikner's RBI-double, Allgood's two-run home run, her first of the season, Hearn's RBI single and a throwing error allowing two additional runs to score, making it 8-5.

The Lady Statesmen tacked on four runs in the bottom of the fourth to extend the lead to 12-5. Hughes added an RBI double and Richard delivered an RBI single in the inning.

LSU-A plated two runs in the top of the sixth to cut the Lady Statesmen lead to 12-7.
Brittany Gonzales (1-0), a true freshman right-hander from Denham Springs, La., earned the win in relief of Lady Statesmen starter Kate Moreland.
The hard-throwing righty worked 4.2 allowing two runs on five hits with three walks and six strikeouts.

Hughes led the Lady Statesmen at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs. Allgood added two RBIs as well.

The Lady Statesmen were scheduled to play in the Captain D's Classic this weekend at North Georgia College and State, but the tournament was cancelled due to inclement winter weather.