CLEVELAND-The Delta State University Lady Statesmen softball team was one pitch away from sweeping Henderson State, but Amber Wilburn induced a Lauren Lewis groundout with the bases loaded in a 5-4 game two loss.

 Lewis along with Angela Carden were the heroes in a 2-1 eight inning victory in game one.

Lewis hit a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game at 1-1, while Carden knocked in Maggie Jackson with two outs in the bottom of the eighth.

One day after being tagged for nine hits, DSU starter Victoria Combs was stellar in the circle, allowing only one run on six hits.

Henderson State (8-13, 3-1) scored its lone run in game one in the top of the third, with an RBI hit by Amber Wilburn.

Combs (6-4) went all eight innings in the win. Britney Benedict (3-5) worked 7.1 innings, and allowed two runs on five hits.

Carden (2-2) and Wilburn (3-4) were the only players with multiple hits for their respective teams.

DSU (9-11, 1-3) found itself trailing 2-0 in the top of the first of game two, as HSU took advantage of a pair of base hits, as well as two DSU errors.

In the top of the fourth, Sarah Lankford made DSU pitcher Brittany Gonzales pay for a two out walk, pushing a single through the left side of the infield that scored two runs.

The Lady Statesmen answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the same inning, taking advantage of two walks by Melissa Decker.

With two outs, Crista Richard singled to left center, scoring Kendall Sizemore and Maggie Jackson.

Emily Todd's first career home run at University Field in the bottom of the fifth,  pushed DSU to within 4-3, before HSU plated an important insurance run in the top of the seventh inning.

Maggie Jackson's two out RBI single again pushed DSU to one run at 5-4, but following a Meagan Church walk to load the bases, Lewis' groundout to second ended the game.

Gonzales (2-6) pitched all seven innings in the loss, allowing five runs (three earned) on eight hits.

Decker (4-3) worked six innings and allowed three runs on seven hits. Wilburn picked up her first save of the season, allowing one run on three hits.

Todd finished 3-for-3, while Carden and Jackson each finished 2-for-3. Ashley Ray had two hits for HSU.

The Lady Statesmen return to action on Saturday, March 19 to begin a four game GSC series with Ouachita Baptist.  

First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.