CLEVELAND-After dropping their seventh straight game by a score of 3-0, the Delta State University softball team bounced back to win game two 6-2 over the Southern Arkansas University Lady Muleriders Saturday at University Field.

Southern Arkansas's Alex Doyle stymied the Lady Statesmen hitters in the first game, and propelled SAU to the shutout win.

The Lady Statesmen (13-12) had the bases loaded with no outs in the bottom of the first, but could not push a run across. This proved to be the only serious threat for DSU in the first game.

SAU (4-11) scored one run in the first inning on a wild pitch from starting pitcher Edie Oliver.

The Lady Riders also added one run in the fourth and fifth innings.

Crista Richard had two hits for DSU in the loss. Courtney Clark added the other. Brittany Eikner went 0-for-1 in the game, snapping a 13 game hitting streak.

Alex Doyle (2-5) went the distance, and allowed no runs on three hits. The junior struck out five DSU hitters.

Oliver (5-8) took the loss for the Lady Statesmen. The senior pitched all seven innings, and allowed three runs on five hits, while striking out four.

After recording only five hits in their two previous games, the Lady Statesmen picked up their hitting in the second game of the doubleheader. The Lady Statesmen pounded out nine hits, including two home runs in the 6-2 win.

The Lady Statesmen struck in the bottom of the first, when Brooke Allgood got one of her three RBI's on a double to right center, scoring Eikner.

SAU took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third after capitalizing on a pair of hits to lead off the inning. DSU starting pitcher Brittany Gonzales would bounce back after allowing the pair of runs, as SAU only managed three more hits in the game.

DSU answered with three runs in the bottom of the third inning. The scoring in the inning started when Eikner's bunt scored Richard from third base. With Clark on after reaching on a fielders choice, Allgood slammed her second home run of the year over the left-center field wall.

Richard picked up two more hits in the second game. Allgood was the leader at the plate for DSU. The Wallace State C.C. transfer was two-for-three with three RBI's. Eikner and Clark also had two hits each. Clark extended her hitting streak to 10 games in the process.

The Lady Statesmen added two more runs in the game, including one in the sixth, as Nikki D'Aurelio smacked the first home run in her DSU career over the left field wall.

Julie Essary  (2-3) took the loss for SAU. Essary allowed five earned runs on nine hits.

Gonzales (4-1) picked up the win for DSU. The freshman worked all seven innings, two runs on six hits. The Denham Springs, La., native tied her career high with six strikeouts.

The two teams will close out their four game set Sunday with a doubleheader beginning at 12:00 p.m. at University Field.