Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 CLEVELAND, Miss. – Four Delta State University pitchers allowed 22 combined hits in two games, as the No. 17 University of West Alabama Tigers swept a Gulf South Conference softball doubleheader, Sunday at University Field.
 
The Tigers (17-6, 8-4) took a closely contested game one 4-2, and scored seven combined runs in the last two innings to take the second game 8-3.
 
Delta State (11-15, 5-7) missed a variety of opportunities in each game, but left 13 runners on base in the second game.
 
UWA took a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth in game one, as Taylor Miller, who was making only her third start of the season, drove in a pair of runs with a double to left center.
 
The Tigers scored two more in the top of the fifth, using an RBI groundout by Michal Robertson and a solo home run by Brooklynn Phillips.
 
Delta State had its biggest chance in the bottom half of the inning, plating a pair of runs on a UWA error, when with the bases loaded, Caroline Womack's ground ball to second resulted in an errant throw, as the Tigers attempted to get a force out at second base.
 
Up 4-2, and with Lady Statesmen on second and third, starting pitcher Sarah Ray struck out Kassidy Tally and induced a ground ball by Adcock to end the threat. 
 
With one out in the home half of the seventh, Brook Cline was hit by a pitch, but relief pitcher Ashleigh Osier struck out Raina Stiffler to end the contest.
 
Ray (10-1) allowed two runs, one earned on five hits in five innings. Osier picked up her first save of the season as she allowed one hit in two innings.
 
Brittany Gonzales (6-6) allowed three runs on six hits in four innings in the loss. Memrie Corley allowed one run on three hits in one inning of relief and Lauren Kendall allowed two hits in two innings of relief.
 
Kaitlin Moore finished 3-for-3 to lead DSU, and four different players had two hits for UWA.
 
Game two started with the Tigers taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, as Anna Shartzer scored on a wild pitch by starting pitcher Miller Maddox.
 
DSU tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the third, when Memrie Corley scored from first base after a throwing error by the UWA shortstop, Robertson, who attempted to throw out Tally at first base.
 
The Lady Statesmen took its only lead of the day at 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth, as Taylor Holland's single through the left side scored Amber Adcock. Osier then stuck out Corley and forced a groundout by Tally, with the bases loaded, ending the inning.
 
UWA took control in the top of the sixth, plating four runs, on a solo home run by Robertson and a three run home run by Stephanie Schoup.
 
The Tigers took control in the top of the seventh, with three more runs, including Schoup's second home run in as many innings, a two run shot over the left field wall.
 
DSU threatened in the bottom half of the inning, scoring one run, and loading the bases with one out. Relief pitcher Taylor Tucker then stuck out Corley and forced a pop up by Tally to center field to end the game.
 
Each team finished with 11 hits in the game, but the Lady Statesmen left 13 runners stranded.
 
UWA started Jessica Brock allowed two runs, one earned on five hits in 3.1 innings. Osier (3-0) got the win in relief, allowing three hits in 2.1 innings. Tucker (5) earned the save, as she allowed one run on three hits in 1.1 innings.
 
Kendall (3-7) took the loss, allowing two runs on two hits and did not record an out in relief work. Maddox allowed three runs, two earned on five hits in five innings. Gonzales allowed three runs on four hits in two innings of relief.
 
Mariah Alvarez, Tally, Adcock and Holland each had two hits for DSU, while Schoup was 3-of-4 with five RBIs for the Tigers.  
 
Delta State hits the road on Wednesday, March 20 to take on transitioning GSC member Union University. First pitch from Fesmire Field is set for 2:00 p.m. The games will be carried live on the Lady Statesmen Softball Network.