JACKSON, Tennessee – The Delta State University softball team clinched its fourth consecutive Gulf South Conference series when it swept a doubleheader at Union University on Saturday at Fesmire Softball Field. The Lady Statesmen scored a combined 29 runs in the slugfest, winning game one 17-2 and game two 12-5. The win in game two gave head coach Casey Bourgoyne-Charles her 200^th career win.   
 
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final (GM1): Delta State 17, Lee 2
Final (GM2): Delta State 12, Lee 5
Location: Fesmire Softball Field | Jackson, Tenn.
Records: Lady Statesmen (19-4, 11-0) | Lady Bulldogs (5-19, 2-9)
Get Social: @DSUStatesmen | @DSUScores | @DeltaStateSB
 
        HOW IT HAPPENED
        Game 1
 

• Kassidy Tally doubled to ignite Delta State's offense in the top of the first inning. She later stole third and scored on an error by Union catcher, Rachel Ridolfi. Madison Zoeller followed with a two-run home run, her team-best fifth of the season, to give the Lady Statesmen a 3-0 lead.
• The Lady Statesmen plated five more runs in the top of the second to gain an 8-0 lead.
• Union scored its first runs in the bottom of the fourth, when Whitney Christian hit a 2-RBI single to cut Delta State's lead 8-2.
• In the top of the seventh, the Lady Statesmen added seven more runs. Abi Gibson blasted her first career home run, which scored Tally and Pepper Baker, to start the rally. Katelyn Westbrook then singled to score Kaitlin Moore for Delta State's 14^th run. Carah Nunez followed with a 2-RBI double, and Gibson smashed a 2-RBI single in her second at-bat of the inning. Moore doubled to drive in Delta State's final run of the game.    
• Starting pitcher Taylor Tucker earned the win for the Lady Statesmen, giving up two runs on four hits in four innings. She improves to 7-1 overall.  
• Taylor Johnson came in relief of Tucker in the bottom of the fifth inning. Johnson gave up four hits and struck out one batter.
• Paige Taylor (3-14) suffered the loss for the Lady Bulldogs, giving up eight runs (all earned) on eight hits.

 


         HOW IT HAPPENED
         Game 2
 

• Delta State scored its first runs of the game in the top of the first inning, but Union answered back with two runs in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at two.
•  Union took a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning when Emily Bennett tripled down the right field line to score Marley Dyess, and Ridolfi followed with an RBI groundout.
• The Lady Statesmen answered back with a five-run rally in the top of the sixth to retake the lead. Baker started the rally when she reached second on an error by the second baseman, which scored Westbrook. Tally singled up the middle to tie the game at four. Gibson followed with a 2-RBI double, giving Delta State back the lead. She scored Delta State's seventh run off a double by Morgan Kazerooni. Jordan Jones followed with a RBI single, making the score 8-4.
• Union scored its final run of the game on a wild pitch.
• In the top of the seventh, Delta State answered back with a two-run home run by Gibson. Jones followed with a 2-run homerun to right center to finish the scoring.
• Starting pitcher Katie Justice earned a no decision, as she allowed four runs on four hits over four innings of work. 
• Taylor Johnson picked up the win in relief to improve to 6-2. She allowed one run on just two hits, with one strikeout.
• Haley Cummins (1-5) suffered the loss for the Lady Bulldogs. In six innings of work, she gave 10 runs, nine earned, on seven hits and recorded only one strikeout.

 
        STAT OF THE DAY
 

• DSU posted season highs in hits (20) and runs (17) in game one.

 
        BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
 

• The 11-0 start in GSC play marks the best start in conference contests since the Lady Statesmen won 11 straight in 2004.
• The victory in game one marked a season high in hits and runs scored for Delta State.
• With the victory in game two, head coach Casey Bourgoyne-Charles earned her 200^th career win.
• The Lady Statesmen are currently the only undefeated team in GSC action.
• Kazerooni has now extended her hitting streak to 16 games.
• Jones had a career-high three hits in both games one and two.
• Tally has reached base safely in all 22 contests.
• Moore now has 142 career RBIs.

UP NEXT
 
DSU will look for its fourth straight GSC sweep on Sunday, when it wraps up its series with a single game against Union. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.