Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
SEARCY, Ark. – Lady Statesmen softball traveled to the first leg of their road trip, stopping in Searcy, Ark., to face the Bisons of Harding University. Delta State (12-13) split the series with Harding (15-10), taking game one of the double-header 7-5 but dropping game two 3-2 in eight innings.

The Green-and-White got things started in the first inning when Kassidy Tally led off with an infield single and later stole to be in scoring position for Mariah Alvarez who delivered with a single to opposite field to take the early 1-0 lead. Later in the inning, Taylor Holland hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Alvarez.

Alvarez delivered again in the top of the second with two outs to score Tally from second. Back-to-back doubles from Kaitlin Moore and Amber Adcock scored Alvarez and Moore, taking the 5-0 lead over Harding.

The Bison added three runs on four hits in the bottom frame of the second to inch within two, 5-3.

Both teams were silent through the fifth inning until DSU struck again in the top of the sixth on a two-out two-RBI double from freshman Madison Zoeller, scoring Adcock and Alvarez to extend the DSU lead to 7-3.

Harding was scoreless in the sixth put made a comeback effort in the bottom of the seventh, scoring two runs. The effort was not enough to pull ahead of the Lady Statesmen, giving Delta State the win for game one.

Timely offense led DSU to the win in game one as they outhit HU 13-10. Mariah Alvarez led with three hits in three at-bats, scoring three times and driving in two runs. Close behind was Kassidy Tally who was 2-for-4 with two run and three stolen bases, recording her 28^th of the season. Adcock added a 2-for-3 game scoring once and driving in one.

Greenville, Miss., native Miller Maddox evened her record as she earned the win over Harding. Maddox pitched 7.0 innings against the Bison, giving up five runs, three earned, on 10 hits and striking out three.

In game two, it was the Green-and-White that got the first run on the board. Both teams were scoreless through three complete innings. DSU scored one run in the top of the fourth on an Amber Adcock double down the left field line, scoring Kaitlin Moore to take the 1-0 lead.

Harding answered with a run in the bottom of the fifth to tie it up at 1-1.

The score remained 1-1 through regulation to force extra innings and the international tiebreaker. With Ashley Mrozinski placed at second, Andrea Cutts grounded out to advance Mrozinski 60 feet. Brook Cline reached on a fielder's choice in the next at-bat, scoring Mrozinski and taking the 2-1 lead.

The Bisons responded in the bottom frame with two runs on two hits to snag the 3-2 victory away from Delta State to avoid the sweep.

Offense struggled for DSU in game two as the tables turned and HU recorded eight hits to DSU's three. Kaitlin Moore went 2-for-3 to lead offense in game two, scoring once. Amber Adcock was responsible for the other hit and one RBI, while Brook Cline contributed the other RBI.

Taylor Tucker (6-4) suffered the loss in game two, pitching 7.1 innings and giving up three runs, two earned, on eight hits. Tucker walked three and struck out four in her outing.

Up next for Delta State is the second leg of its road trip, a conference series on the road against the Lady Bulldogs of Union University in Jackson, Tenn. The double-header is scheduled for Saturday, March 15 starting at 5:00 p.m. and a single game will be played Sunday, March 16 at 3:00 p.m.