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CLEVELAND, Miss. - After playing its first 12 games at a neutral site and the previous four at the friendly confines of University
Field, the Delta State University Lady Statesmen softball team hits the road for its first road doubleheader in Gulf South Conference play, Thursday March 7 at the University of North Alabama, before hosting the Christian Brothers Lady Buccaneers on Satuday, March 9.


PREVIEWING UNA-CBU

DSU helda 6-12 mark on the road last season, including a 5-9 record in conference action. The Green-and-White took 3-of-4 from the Lions last season, and split four closely contested contests with Christian Brothers.Three of which were decided by one run.

UNA enters the week 14-6 overall with a 1-3 mark in GSC play. The lone conference victory for the Lions was a big one, as it came on a 4-2 victory over defending National Champion Valdosta State, on Sunday, March 3. The Lions return five starters, including three of its four leading hitters from a team that finished 20-26 last season with an 8-20 record in GSC play. UNA is led by its returning leading hitter, Calllie Steadman. The Ardmore, Ala., native finished her freshman campaign with a .333 batting average and has started off the first 20 games this season as the team leader with a .388 average. The Lions also return its two leading pitchers, Breanna Riley and Haley Barnette. Riley leads the Lions with an 8-2 record with a 1.89 ERA.

CBU enters the weekend with a 4-4 mark including a two game sweep on Sunday, March 3 over the University of West Georgia. The Lady Bucs are led by 2011 GSC Freshman of the Year Marie Joiner. The San Clemente, Calif., native finished last season with a .348 batting average. CBU returns all three of its pitchers from its 2012 edition that finished 14-31.

A MASTER THIEF

Outfielder Kassidy Tally has taken advantage nearly every time she has reached base this season. The freshman leads the Gulf South Conference with 17 stolen bases. The Raleigh, Miss native has stolen a base in all but four games this season, and has reached base safely in 10 of her 14 starts.

LET'S GET SOME RUNS

In the 12-6 victory over the Ohio Dominican Panthers in the fourth game of the season, the Lady Statesmen already surpassed the 2012 total for most runs in a game. DSU scored in double digits one time last season, which came in a 15-11 loss at Henderson State. The Green-and-White have scored in double digits twice this season, with the last time being the 10-4 victory over Wisconsin Parkside on February 24.

GONZALES NAMED PRESEASON ALL-GSC

Senior pitcher Brittany Gonzales was named Preseason All-GSC in a vote by the league's coaches. The Denham Springs, La., native is coming off a stellar junior season in which she finished 16-11 with a 2.98 ERA. Gonzales currently ranks fourth in school history in innings pitched (504.1), sixth in strikeouts (259), sixth in appearances (101) and tied for sixth in wins (36). The former Live Oak High School standout is currently 4-4 with a 3.82 ERA. In the 5-2 victory over West Georgia on March 2, Gonzales made her 100th career appearance and pitched in her 500th career inning.

ADCOCK READY FOR SOLID SOPHOMORE SEASON

Sophomore shortstop Amber Adcock is poised to build on a solid freshman campaign in which she was named Second Team All-GSC and Second Team All-South Region. The Brandon native finished the season as the team leader in runs (35), hits (65) and doubles (17). Adcock finished second on the team with a .343 batting average, and her 17 doubles were tied for second in the GSC and in the top five in DSU history for doubles in a season. In the six game UNA Invitational, Adcock finished 5-of-16, with her first two home runs of the season and four RBIs. In the 5-4 victory over West Georgia on March 2, Adcock had the first four hit game of
her career, as she finished 4-of-5.

LADY STATESMEN TABBED SIXTH IN GSC

One year after winning the national championship, Valdosta State comes in as the favorite to earn the Gulf south Conference crown. The Blazers, who have won the last four GSC titles,grabbed five of the eight first place votes and finished with 47 points. Alabama-Huntsville, always one of the top contenders in the GSC, earned the remaining three first place votes and finished second in the poll of league coaches with 42 points. West Alabama (36 points) -which made a solid run in the NCAA South Region Tournament last season - came in third.West Florida (32), which picked up a second place vote, was a close fourth. North Alabama
(22) came in fifth and was closely followed by Delta State (21), which finished second in last season's GSC Tournament. West Georgia (16) and Christian Brothers (7) rounded out the voting.

MOORE OFF TO SOLID START

Freshman Kaitlin Moore could not have asked for a much better start to her collegiate career.The Southaven, Miss., native recorded two doubles in her first career game versus Kentucky Wesleyan on Feb. 16. In her first career Gulf South Conference doubleheaders versus West Georgia and Shorter, Moore finished a combined 9-of-13, including five doubles. The former
Desoto Central High School product currently leads the Lady Statesmen in batting average (.440), doubles (10), triples (1), RBI (12) slugging percentage (.680) and on base percentage (.500).