MONTICELLO, Ark. – The No. 23 Delta State University softball team held on for a 3-2 victory in the second contest to split a doubleheader with the University of Arkansas at Monticello on Tuesday at Blossoms Field. UAM scored four runs in the sixth for a 4-3 victory in the opener, while the Lady Statesmen scored three runs in the first two innings in the nightcap.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final (GM1): UAM 4, DSU 3
Final (GM2): DSU 3, UAM 2
Location: Blossoms Field | Monticello, Ark.
Records: Lady Statesmen (31-11) | Cotton Blossoms (23-19)
Get Social: @DSUStatesmen | @DSUScores | @DeltaStateSB
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Game 1
- Morgan Kazerooni gave the Lady Statesmen a 2-0 victory in the top of the first, as she made UAM pitcher Kendra Coleman pay for a two out walk to Kaitlin Moore, by smacking her team-best seventh home run of the season.
- Carah Nunez added to the lead in the next inning when she hit a her third home run of the season, a two out solo shot to left center field.
- DSU starting pitcher Taylor Tucker faced the minimum from the third inning until Skyler Anderson slapped a one out single in the sixth. After a single by Holly Willmarth, Tucker forced a groundout by Korie Parker.
- With runners on second and third Kali Piha knocked a two-RBI double to left center.
- The next batter, McKenzie Rice hit what proved to be the game-winning home run, as she hit one over the left field fence.
- Coleman (11-9) retired DSU in order in the seventh to earn the victory. Coleman struck out six and walked two.
- Taylor Tucker (12-3) allowed four runs on eight hits in 5.2 innings. She was forced to throw just 54 pitches.
- Moore led the way for DSU with two hits in two at-bats.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Game 2
- DSU opened the scoring, again in the first inning, when Moore dropped a singe to center field that scored Tally.
- Nunez drove in her second run of the day in the second, as her well-placed squeeze bunt sored Jordan Jones.
- The Lady Statesmen scored their final run of the game in the same inning when Pepper Baker's single to right scored Kara Lane Nowell.
- UAM plated its lone runs of the contest in the fourth, when Kali Bolter smashed an opposite field home run to right field.
- Taylor Johnson (11-5) allowed two runs on five hits in four innings of work. Katie Justice (2) earned her second save of the season, as she allowed two hits in three innings.
- Alyson Finnigan (2-2) allowed three runs on two hits in one inning. Relief pitcher Elizabeth Delafield allowed three hits in six innings. Delafield retired 13 straight batters from the third-seventh innings.
- Jones led DSU with two hits, including a triple in the second.
STAT OF THE DAY:
DSU earned the victory despite being held to just nine hits in 14 innings.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:
- The 4-3 loss in game one marked the first time this season (16-1) that the Lady Statesmen have dropped a game when leading after five innings.
- DSU also dropped its first contest when it has hit two or more home runs.
- The Lady Statesmen are 8-5 in games decided by one run.
- DSU has scored first in its last seven straight contests.
- With her stolen base in the first inning of game two, Tally moved into third place in NCAA Division II history with 220 career swipes.
- Moore has moved into second in DSU history with 257 career hits.
- Johnson has allowed five hits or less in eight of her starts this season.
UP NEXT
DSU returns to the road for a three-game series with Shorter University on Saturday, April 9 and Sunday, April 10. Saturday's doubleheader begins at noon. All three games will be carried on GoStatesmen.com