Complete Lady Statesmen Softball GSC Tournament Notebook [PDF]

SOUTHAVEN - The Delta State University softball team is making its record 25th appearance in the Gulf South Conference Softball Tournament this Friday-Sunday, April 30-May 2 at Greenbrook Softball Complex.  No other program has made the tournament in each season that it was held.  The Lady Statesmen are the No. 4 seed in the West Division and will be paired with the East No. 1 seed, University of Alabama-Huntsville Lady Chargers at 11 a.m. on Friday.

The Lady Statesmen will then take on the winner/loser of the West Florida Henderson State contest
UAH and DSU met on April 11th in Decatur, Ala., at the Gulf South Conference Crossover. The Lady Chargers won 9-0 in five innings.

Alabama Huntsville will be led by the tandem of Beth Lawson and Erin Duke. The seniors have combined for 21 home runs and 83 RBI's.

The Lady Statesmen are 7-9 against teams in the Gulf South Conference Tournament Field this season. DSU went 0-3 against the GSC East Division's top three teams at the Gulf South Conference Crossover.

Alabama Huntsville and Delta State met in the opening round in Southaven in 2009. The Lady Chargers claimed a 5-1 victory.

The Lady Chargers are 8-0 all-time at the GSC Tournament against the Lady Statesmen.

“WE NEVER MISS THE PARTY”
Delta State University softball has never missed a Gulf South Conference Tournament. The Lady Statesmen are making their 25th straight appearance in the GSC's annual postseason clash.

SENIOR LEADERSHIP
The 2010 edition of the Lady Statesmen features seven seniors, including four seniors that are in their fourth season with the program. The four year seniors have a combined record of 126-101, and have been named to four All-Gulf South Conference Teams. Both Edie Oliver and Brittany Eikner have been named first team All-Conference in their careers, while Chelsea Carr and Courtney Clark have been named Second Team.

AGAINST THE FIELD
The Lady Statesmen are 7-9 against teams in the Gulf South Conference Tournament Field this season. DSU went 0-3 against the GSC East Division's top three teams at the Gulf South Conference Crossover.

GSC Tournament Field
Alabama Huntsville: 0-1
Valdosta State: 0-1
West Florida: 0-1
North Alabama: 1-0
Arkansas Monticello: 0-4
Henderson State: 2-2
Ouachita Baptist: 4-0

A TOUGH OUT
Crista Richard started a bit slow in her opening campaign with the Lady Statesmen. Beginning with Gulf South Conference play the junior became arguably the toughest out in the DSU lineup. The speedy center fielder is hitting .408 in conference play, which ranks eighth in the GSC. The Crowley, La., native leads the team with a .367 batting average. She also leads the team with a .426 on base percentage, and 12 stolen bases. Her 42 hits in GSC play lead the league.

PAID THE COST TO BE THE BOSS
Senior Edie Oliver has taken it upon herself to lead the Lady Statesmen into the Gulf South Conference Tournament. In the last seven contests for DSU, Oliver is the leading hitter with a .368 batting average. If that wasn't enough, she has pitched in 35-of-43 possible innings with a 1.60 earned run average. The Eupora native pitched all 28 innings in the regular season series finale against Arkansas Tech.

SILVER ANNIVERSARY
The Delta State University Lady Statesmen are the only team in the Gulf South Conference that has qualified for the GSC Tournament in all 25 seasons in which it has been held. The Lady Statesmen are 28-38 all-time in the Tournament which has been held at 10 different sites.

THEY PICKED THE RIGHT TIME
Five different Lady Statesmen have career highs in hits coming into the post-season. Brooke Allgood has 44 hits, compared to 42 in 2009. Brittany Eikner has posted her career best 58 hits. The shortstop had a previous best of 43 in 2007. Chelsea Carr has also increased her career best in hits from 33 to 35, and Edie Oliver has doubled her career high from 19 to 38. As a team, the Lady Statesmen have 389 total hits, compared to 363 in 2009. Also, the DSU hitters have 74 doubles in 2010, compared to only 51 in 2009.

NO COMPARISON
The Lady Statesmen are hitting a powerful .335 in their 27 wins, but are considerably less effective in losses, with only a .193 batting average in 25 losses.

WEB GEMS
The Lady Statesmen enter the Gulf South Conference Tournament with a .967 fielding percentage, which ranks second in the league to the .970 of Henderson State. Three everyday position players for DSU have yet to commit a miscue in the field. Catcher Kim Hensley, centerfielder Crista Richard and pitcher/first baseman Edie Oliver have no errors in a combined 459 chances.

COME ON, HIT ME
Senior catcher Kim Hensley ranks second in the Gulf South Conference with 12 hit by pitch this season. The Lady Statesmen are tied for first with Alabama Huntsville with 41 hit by pitch.

MEDIA COVERAGE
The Lady Statesmen Softball Network will offer full coverage of the 2010 GSC Softball Championship Tournament on www.GoStatesmen.com. J.T. Webb will have the call.