Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 DECATUR, Ala. – The Delta State University Lady Statesmen softball team split on the opening day of the season at the UAH Charger Chillout, Friday at Wilson Morgan Park.
 
DSU (1-1) dropped a tough 1-0 decision to Kentucky Wesleyan (1-0), before bouncing back to take game two 8-0 in five innings versus Quincy (0-1).
 
Game one was a pitchers duel, as Lady Statesmen pitcher Lauren Kendall and KWC's allowed only five and four hits respectively.
 
The Panthers plated the lone run of the contest in the bottom of the fourth inning on an RBI single by Mackenzie Weedman that scored Kaci Ovelgoenner.
 
DSU had runners at second base with less than two outs four times in the contest, but could not push a run across. The biggest threat for the Lady Statesmen came in the top of the seventh, as Kaitlin Moore led off the inning with her second double of the game. Moore advanced to third following a bunt by Brook Cline, and was left stranded following a strikeout and a groundout, which ended the game.
 
Kendall (0-1) allowed one run on five hits in the loss, while Ashley Winstead (1-0) struck out eight DSU hitters in the win.
 
Game two also had the makings of a pitchers duel, as neither team was able to score until the fourth inning, when the Lady Statesmen scored three runs on a pair of hits. Moore collected the first RBIs of the season, and her career with a two out single that scored Megan Mayfield and Kassidy Tally.
 
In the bottom of the fifth The Lady Statesmen pushed across five runs to end the game via the eight run lead after five innings mercy rule. Three of the five runs came with two outs.
 
Tally singled to start the inning, and was driven home on a two RBI single by Amber Adcock. Moore picked up her third RBI of the game on a single up the middle, giving the Lady Statesmen a 6-0 lead.
 
Following a passed ball after a strikeout, which would have ended the inning, Brook Cline ended the game with a double to right center, scoring Moore and Emily Todd.
 
Moore finished with two hits in each game.
 
Brittany Gonzales (1-0) pitched a complete game shutout, allowing six hits, with four strikeouts. Lauren Francis (0-1) allowed eight runs, five earned, on six hits, despite going perfect through the first three innings.
 
DSU will start day 2 at the Charger Chillout on Saturday, Feb. 16 at 1 p.m. against Bellarmine University. The Lady Statesmen will follow that with a 5 p.m. contest with Ohio Dominican University to finish the day.