RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Delta State Lady Statesmen travel to Arkansas Tech this weekend with hopes of clinching a berth into the postseason Gulf South Conference tournament.

The Lady Statesmen (25-23, 11-15 GSC) enter their final series of the regular season tied for fourth place in the GSC West with idle Ouachita Baptist, and will need a strong showing if they hope to control their own playoff destiny.

If the green-and-white is to make its 24th consecutive appearance the GSC Tournament, the Lady Statesmen will have to right the proverbial ship, as they have lost three straight and eight of their last nine games. DSU went 1-5 against East Division opponents at the GSC Crossover tournament last week.

Edie Oliver and Brittany Gonzales will likely see the bulk of the action inside the pitcher's circle for the Lady Statesmen. Oliver, the team's ace, has compiled a 12-12 record with a 2.24 ERA in 28 appearances.

Gonzales, who is second on the team in starts with 16 (behind Oliver's 20), is 9-5 with a 3.29 ERA.

Crista Richard and Brittany Eikner lead the team in batting with .368 and .359 batting averages, respectively.

The Lady Statesmen will have a bye weekend during the last weekend of the season next week in the seven-team GSC West. A victorious series over the Golden Suns will improve their chances for making the playoffs while they scoreboard watch next weekend.

Delta State is the only school in conference history to make the postseason GSC tournament every year since its inception.