CLEVELAND, Miss. – The No. 23 Delta State University softball team used a bit of good fortune and timely hitting to sweep a Gulf South Conference doubleheader from Christian Brothers University on Saturday at University Field. The Lady Statesmen scored on a wild pitch to earn a 2-1 (8) extra inning victory in the opener, and scored nine runs in the third inning to earn a 10-2 (5) mercy rule victory in game two.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final (GM1): DSU 2, CBU 1 (8)
Final (GM2): DSU 10, CBU 2 (5)
Location: University Field | Cleveland, Miss.
Records: Lady Statesmen (29-10, 18-5) | Lady Bucs (6-31, 2-21)
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HOW IT HAPPENED:
GAME ONE
- After stranding a runner on third base in the opening inning of the contest, Christian Brothers starting pitcher Sierra Anderson retired 13 of the next 14 batters.
- The Lady Statesmen scored the first run of the contest in the bottom of the fifth, when Kassidy Tally's infield single scored Carah Nunez.
- Christian Brothers responded in the top of the sixth on an RBI groundout by Hannah Oliver.
- DSU threatened in the seventh, but Anderson forced a fly out and struck out Tally to strand a pair of runners.
- After allowing a leadoff single, Lady Statesman starting pitcher Taylor Tucker forced a double play to end the eighth.
- Abi Gibson led off the eighth with a single to right and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kaitlin Moore. After advancing to third on a fly out by Morgan Kazerooni, Gibson scored easily on a wild pitch by Anderson.
- Tucker (12-2) allowed one unearned run on five hits. Anderson (0-6) allowed two runs on five hits.
- Tally was the only DSU player with multiple hits.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
GAME TWO
- After stranding four runners through the first two innings, the Lady Statesmen found a breakthrough in the bottom of the third, as they pushed across nine runs on four hits and used three bases loaded walks and a hit by pitch. Kazerooni, Madison Zoeller and Kara Lane Nowell all recorded RBI doubles in the inning.
- Tally recorded her third hit of the day in the fourth when she finished the scoring by driving in Nowell with a single to left.
- Christian Brothers scored their lone runs of the contest in the fifth, using three hits and capitalizing on a pair of DSU errors.
- Taylor Johnson (10-5) allowed two runs, one earned, on four hits with two strikeouts. Anderson (0-7) allowed three runs on five hits in 2.1 innings. Kylie Steagall allowed six runs on one hit in 0.2 innings, and Kasey Beekman allowed one run on two hits in one inning.
- Moore and Nowell recorded two hits apiece to lead DSU. Tally, Kazerooni and Zoeller drove in two runs apiece.
STAT OF THE DAY:
- The Lady Statesmen scored nine runs in the third inning of game two.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:
- Johnson allowed has allowed five or less hits in 12 contests in which she recorded a decision.
- With her two stolen bases, Tally is two away from tying Cheryl Bogues (N.C. Central, 1990-93) for third in NCAA Divison II history.
UP NEXT:
DSU looks for its fifth GSC series sweep on Sunday versus Christian Brothers. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
