CLEVELAND-The Delta State University softball team split a non conference doubleheader with Belhaven University on Tuesday at University Field.

The Lady Statesmen (9-3) won a thrilling 6-5 contest in nine innings, before Belhaven (11-1) hit their way to a 10-4 win in game two.

In game one, Brittany Eikner belted a Sarah Burns pitch to center field to plate the tying and winning runs in the bottom of the ninth.

The Lady Statesmen did not record a hit until the fifth inning, when Emily Hearn blasted her first home run of the year over the left field wall to tie the game at one.

The Lady Statesmen would take a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth when Courtney Clark drove in Eikner with a base hit to center field, but the Blazers would bounce back in the top of the seventh, when Kate Moreland walked Jessica Eggold with the bases loaded to tie the game.

Edie Oliver entered the game in the circle, and retired Christina Jacques to end the threat.

The teams would each trade a run in the first extra frame, but BU would take a 5-3 lead going into the bottom of the ninth.

The Lady Statesmen would respond in dramatic fashion. Center fielder Crista Richard drove in pinch runner Brittany Gonzales, after smashing a line drive to third base with two outs, bringing up Eikner.

The senior would respond, as she drove in her 11th and 12th runs of the season, on a game winning single to left field, scoring Taylor Hughes and Paige Silverthorn.

Hearn was the only DSU player with multiple hits, as she finished 2-for-4 with a single and the previously mentioned homer.

Christina Jacques and Tiffany Ansley both had two base hits for the Blazers.

Moreland did not factor in the decision, as she went 6.2 innings, allowing two runs on seven hits, with seven strike outs.

Oliver (4-1) picked up the win, going 2.1 innings, allowing three unearned runs on two hits.

Burns (4-1) took the loss. Burns allowed four earned runs on six hits, and fanned 12 Lady Statesmen hitters.

In game two, the Blazers would not be forced to wait for offense. A Tiffany Ansley home run off of DSU starter Brittany Gonzales would put Belhaven up 2-0 in the top of the first.

Gonzales would be lifted in favor of Edie Oliver, after allowing three runs and four hits, in the top of the first inning.

DSU would tie the game at three in the fifth, despite only having one hit until that point.

That would be as close as the Lady Statesmen would get, as Belhaven added one run in the sixth and six in the seventh to finish off the win.

Hearn knocked in both runs for DSU. She had an RBI groundout, and hit her second homerun of the day in the seventh.

Eikner and Hughes both had one hit apiece to round out the hitting for the Lady Statesmen.

Edie Oliver (4-2) took the loss, as she allowed seven runs on 14 hits with four strikeouts. Burns (5-1), was one of four Belhaven pitchers used in game two, and she took the win. She went 2.2 innings, allowing one run on five hits.

The Lady Statesmen will return to action on Saturday, as they host The University of West Georgia at 2 p.m. and Nova Southeastern at 4 p.m.