CLEVELAND, Miss. – Taylor Tucker's two-hit performance in the circle boosted the Delta State University softball team over Harding in game two of the doubleheader to earn the split on Tuesday afternoon.
INSIDE THE MATCHUPFinal: GM 1 Harding 6, Delta State 4
GM2 Delta State 4, Harding 1
Location: University Field | Cleveland, Miss.
Records: Lady Statesmen (25-20), Bison (22-26)
Get Social: @DSUStatesmen | @DSUScores | @DeltaStateSB
HOW IT HAPPENEDGAME 1- Harding's Mackenzie Jones put up the first run of the game in a two-run outing by the Lady Bison in the top of the first. The other run crossed the plate courtesy of an Amanda Berdon RBI-single to left field to give Harding the 2-0 lead.
- In the home half of the second, Mariah Alvarez started the inning off with a leadoff double down the right field line. With Kassidy Tally reaching on an HU fielding error, Alvarez was able to come around to score. Later in the inning with one out and two runners in scoring position, Memrie Corley came through in the clutch with a two-RBI single up the middle, scoring Tally and Rodriguez to put the lead in DSU's possession 3-2.
- The Lady Bison regained the advantage, 4-3, in the top of the third on a Marley Edwards two-RBI double to left field.
- HU added to its lead with two more runs in the sixth, notching the score at 6-3.
- Kara Lane Nowell's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth scored Tally from third to cut the deficit to 6-4.
- Delta State made some noise in its last at-bat in the seventh but could not overcome the deficit, as the Lady Statesmen fell by a final 6-4.
- Freshman Taylor Johnson (9-6) suffered the loss in the circle, pitching 5.2 innings and giving up six earned runs on 10 hits.
- Taylor Holland contributed two of Delta State's total six hits to go 2-for-2 in the game with two walks.
- Harding outhit DSU 12-6.
GAME 2- Delta State found redemption by scoring first in its first attempt. Holland and Kaitlin Moore singled and worked their way into scoring position. Alvarez doubled to right center field to score Holland and Moore, giving the Lady Statesmen the 2-0 advantage.
- A solo home run from HU's Carolyn Clayton put Harding on the board in the top of the second, slashing the deficit in half 2-1.
- The Green-and-White answered with a lone run in the bottom frame via Corley's RBI-single to center field, bringing in Rodriguez and notching the score at 3-1 in favor of DSU.
- Another Delta State run crossed the plate in the home half of the fifth. Amber Adcock's sacrifice bunt and heads up base running by Ashley Mrozinski allowed her to advance two bases. Moore reached on a fielding error that allowed Mrozinski to score from third. DSU held the advantage 4-1.
- A three-up, three-down top of the seventh ended the game for the Green-and-White to take game two and earn the split.
- DSU put up six hits, dispersed between six Lady Statesmen.
- Taylor Tucker (3-4) tossed the complete game, giving up one earned run on two hits. The only blemish came off the solo home run in the second inning.
STAT OF THE DAY- Sophomore pitcher Taylor Tucker two-hit Harding in game two, establishing a career-best in her third complete game of the season.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE- Taylor Holland finished the day going 3-for-3 from the plate with four walks. Mariah Alvarez and Memrie Corley each contributed two hits apiece and drove in two runs.
- Kassidy Tally now holds the third spot in the career runs scored column in the DSU record books. With her two runs today, she has crossed the plate 130 times in her tenure and passes Meredith Coleman (2003-06) and Ashlee Nodhturft (2004-06).
- Delta State now moves to 3-1 on the season against the Lady Bison.
UP NEXT- Delta State will hit the road this weekend for a GSC series with West Florida. DSU will take on the Argos in a doubleheader on Saturday, April 25 starting at 1 p.m. The series finale will take place on Sunday, April 26 at 12 p.m.
