HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The Lady Statesmen softball team of Delta State University (7-1) closed out the Charger Chillout on Sunday afternoon to finish the three-day tournament 5-1.
THE BASICS: (GM1) No. 9 North Georgia 11, Delta State 7
(GM2) Delta State 3, Southern Arkansas 2
- Date: Sunday, February 8
- Location: Kiwanis SportsPlex | Huntsville, Ala. | UAH Charger Chillout Day 3
HOW IT HAPPENEDGame One – No. 9 North Georgia- The Lady Statesmen got the scoring started in a high-scoring affair against the Nighthawks in the bottom of the first inning on a Kory Watterson two-RBI single through the hole at shortstop, scoring Kaitlin Moore and Amber Adcock to lead 2-0.
- North Georgia plated four runs in the top frame of the second on three hits to take the lead 4-2.
- The bottom half of the second featured an Adcock sacrifice fly that scored Kassidy Tally for DSU to cut the deficit to 4-3.
- Two more runs came across for UNG on a two-RBI double from Meredith Heyer, but Watterson came through again for Delta State by beating out a throw to first on a bunt. A wild throw from the North Georgia defense enabled two Lady Statesmen to score, locking the game at 5-5 after five innings of play.
- The Nighthawks scored six more runs over two innings for DSU to face an 11-5 deficit going into the bottom of the seventh inning.
- Moore's two-RBI single with two runners in scoring position tacked on two more runs for Delta State, but the lead was too much to overcome. The Lady Statesmen fell 11-7 to No. 9 North Georgia.
- Watterson led the offense, going 3-for-3 with three RBIs. Adcock followed with a 3-for-4 game, scoring once and driving in one run. Moore went 2-for-4 with a run and a pair of RBIs.
- Taylor Tucker (1-1) suffered the loss in the circle. The sophomore gave up seven runs, six earned, on 11 hits in 6.0 innings of work.
Game Two – Southern Arkansas- The Muleriders struck early in their first at-bat with a lone run to earn the 1-0 advantage. SAU added to its lead, 2-0, in the fifth with another solo run on a leadoff double that came around to score on a DSU defensive error.
- In the bottom frame of the fifth, sophomore Madison Zoeller came through with timely hitting on a single through the hole at shortstop scoring Ashley Mrozinski and Watterson, tying the game at 2-2.
- With the score still deadlocked in the bottom of the seventh, Delta State used three hits to go ahead of the Muleriders in walk-off fashion courtesy of a blooper by pinch hitter Kara Lane Nowell placed perfectly over the head of SAU's shortstop, scoring Memrie Corley to take the victory 3-2.
- Zoeller led the offense, going 3-for-3 with two RBIs. Cutts and Moore followed with two hits apiece.
- Taylor Johnson (3-0) earned the victory, pitching the complete game and giving up two runs, one earned, on seven hits.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE- Prior to the game with Southern Arkansas, Kory Watterson recorded a hit in every at-bat in the Chillout. She closes out the weekend 9-for-12.
- The loss to North Georgia snapped a six-game win streak for the Lady Statesmen.
WHO'S NEXTDelta State opens Gulf South Conference play next weekend on the road in Livingston, Ala. against West Alabama. DSU opens the series with a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 14 starting at 2:00 p.m.
