MEMPHIS,TENN.-The Delta State University softball team was once again unable to get above .500 in Gulf South Conference play, after a second two game split with Christian Brothers on Tuesday.

The Lady Statesmen (22-15, 8-8)  took game one 8-5 in eight innings, but dropped a 9-6 decision in game two.

Both teams scored a pair of runs in the second inning. Crista Richard continued her hot hitting with a single that scored Taylor Hughes, and Paige Silverthorn scored following a throwing error.

CBU (14-16, 4-8) would answer with four hits in the bottom of the second to score their two runs.

The Lady Statesmen did not record another hit until the sixth inning. Chelsea Carr doubled with two outs, and Hughes walked. Paige Silverthorn drove in both runners with a double to right center field, recording her ninth and 10th RBI's of the season.

Richard drove in Silverthorn with a double to left field to make the score 5-2.

Kate Moreland came in to pitch in the seventh inning with a chance to slam the door on the Lady Bucs, but they did not go away quietly.

After a pair of hits, with Oliver back in the game to pitch, the Lady Statesmen led 5-4 with two outs. With  runners on second and third,. Casey King smoked a single to center field, one run scored, but Crista Richard made an outstanding throw to gun down Jessica Ambers at the plate to save the game for the Lady Statesmen.

With the score tied at five, Brooke Algood drove in Richard to make the score 6-5. The Lady Statesmen added two more runs, scoring on wild pitches by relief pitcher Leigh Ann Henry.

CBU loaded the bases against Oliver in the bottom of the eighth, but the senior showed her poise, with a strikeout of leadoff hitter Kathleen Nelson to end the game.

Oliver (10-9) earned her fifth straight win in the circle. The senior pitched 7.2 innings, and allowed two runs on seven hits with three strikeouts. Moreland pitched 0.1 innings of relief, and allowed three runs on two hits. One run was earned.

Richard led the way for the Lady Statesmen at the plate. The Alabama Southern CC transfer was 3-for-5 at the plate with two RBI's. Silverthorn added a 2-for-3 performance with a pair of RBI's. She also scored two runs.

In game two, Christian Brothers made the Lady Statesmen pay dearly for an error. With two outs in the inning, Brooke Davis smashed a three RBI double off starting pitcher Brittany Gonzales, but she was gunned down at third base. CBU led 3-0 after one inning of play.

CBU added two more runs in the bottom of the third to make the score 5-1. In the top of the fourth, pinch hitter Anna Wesliegh Riggs drove in the first runs of her DSU career with a single down the left field line to make the score 5-3.

The Lady Bucs answered back with two more runs in the bottom of the fifth to make the score 7-3.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, with two outs, and two runners on, Richard once again stole the show. The junior smashed her first career home run, a line drive shot to right center, to make the score 7-6.

Just when it seemed the Lady Statesmen had all of the momentum, CBU scored a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth to make the score 9-6.

With a pair of runners on, Riggs struck out to end the threat in the top of the seventh inning to close out the game.

Gonzales (8-2) took the loss. The freshman gave up nine runs, four of which were earned in five innings of work. Oliver also pitched an inning in relief.

Richard and Eikner both had a pair of hits for DSU.

The Lady Statesmen will return to action on Friday, when they will travel to Arkadelphia, Ark., for a four game set with Henderson State. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.

The games will be carried on the Lady Statesmen Sports Network.