GAME NOTES

CLEVELAND, Mississippi – The Delta State University softball team is set to open its 2017 campaign at the Gulf Shores Tournament in Gulf Shores, Ala. on Friday, Feb. 3.
 
PREVIEWING THE GULF SHORES TOURNAMENT

• Delta State kicks off the tournament against No. 22, the University of Missouri – St. Louis on Feb. 3, at 1:30 p.m. USML went 53-9 last year and made its fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance. The Tritons return eight starters, including All-American and three-time First Team All-GLVC selection Alex Stupek. Stupek led the Tritons in batting, RBIs, runs scored and stolen bases. The Tritons' defense set the national record for fielding percentage at .985 last season. Delta State will face Miles College for its second game of the day at 4:00 p.m. In 2016, DSU swept Miles College in a non-conference doubleheader. The Lady Statesmen claimed the opener 12-0 in five innings and earned the sweep with an 11-1 (5) victory in game two. Miles College finished the 2016 season as SIAC runners-up
• On day two of the tournament, DSU will face Tuskegee University on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 10 a.m. The Tuskegee University Lady Golden Tigers finished the 2016 season 24-31. They clinched the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Championship, but fell to eventual national champions North Alabama and St. Leo in the NCAA DII South Regional. Delta State will square off with Embry-Riddle at 12:30 p.m. on Feb. 4. Embry-Riddle finished a program-high 35-15 last season. The Eagles are in their final season marking the official transition to NCAA DII.
• Delta State will begin the final day of tournament action with a 9 a.m. contest against the University of North Georgia on Feb. 5. UNG enters the 2017 season ranked No. 8 by the NFCA's Preseason Poll. The Nighthawks finished the 2016 season as Peach Belt Conference Champions, but were swept by Armstrong State in the NCAA DII Southeast Super Regional. In their last meeting, DSU defeated UNG 3-2. Delta State will close out the tournament against Rollins College at 11:30 a.m. on Feb. 5. Rollins posted a 40-16-1 record in 2016 and enters the tournament coming off one of the most successful seasons in program history. The Tars finished tied for second in the Sunshine State Conference and advanced to the NCAA Super Regional for the first time in school history. They return 10 players from last year's squad, including five seniors.

 
 
QUICK HITS

• DSU returns 12 letterwinners from last year's squad, including six starters (2016 average, HR, RBI) SS Abi Gibson (.296, 2, 28), 2B Kara Lane Nowell (.270, 2, 13), DP Jordan Jones (.308, 4, 31), 3B Carah Nunez (.276, 6, 25), C Madison Zoeller (.200, 6, 36), and OF Pepper Baker (.216, 1, 8). 
• The Lady Statesmen bring back two contributors from their 2016 pitching rotation (2016 record, ERA): Taylor Tucker (13-7, 4.09) and Taylor Johnson (13-9, 4.29).
• The DSU roster includes eight incoming freshmen (P/OF Mari Alex Sandridge, INF Hannah Salmon, INF Colben Patin, INF Shelby Newsom, C Carlie Vice, INF Miranda Smith, INF/P Bailie Springfield and OF Olivia Dick) and two transfers (P Brittany Taylor and OF Austin Pruitt).
• DSU is scheduled to open the season with 12 neutral-site contests before conference play begins on Feb. 18.

 
TUCKER LEADING THE WAY IN THE CIRCLE

• Senior starting pitcher Taylor Tucker will anchor the Lady Statesmen's pitching staff this season. In 2016, she pitched in 30 games, making 19 starts. She posted a 13-7 record with 40 strikeouts, a 3.18 ERA and nine complete games in 127.2 innings. Tucker finished the season with a team-best three saves. Overall, Tucker currently ranks ninth in school history in career wins (28) and 10th in games pitched (75).

 
HOT SWINGING BATS

• The Lady Statesmen hit .308 last season with 264 RBIs, 85 doubles, six triples and 31 home runs.

 
LET'S GET SOME RUNS

• Delta State scored 288 runs last season--ranking sixth in the GSC in runs scored. The Lady Statesmen outscored opponents 59-31 in first inning action. Nine times Delta State won by scoring at least 10 runs.

 
WHERE THEY'RE FROM

• The 2017 Delta State softball team features 22 players from six different states. Fourteen players are Mississippi natives. Four players call Louisiana their home, while four states are home to one player (Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas and Tennessee).  

 
DSU IN SEASON OPENERS
 
Delta State is 14-9 in its previous 23 season opening contests
 
2016: Armstrong Atlantic 10, DSU 9 (8)
2015: DSU 9, Henderson State 8 (9)
2014: DSU 7, Henderson State 0
2013: Kentucky Wesleyan 1, DSU 0
2012: DSU 4, Ouachita Baptist 3
2011: Nova Southeastern 7, DSU 3
2010: DSU 12, LSU-A 3
2009: DSU 5, LSU-A 0
2008: Cameron 6, DSU 5 (9)
2007: Saint Leo 5, DSU 4
2006: DSU 6, Cameron 4
2005: Barry 1, DSU 0
2004: DSU 9, Mississippi Valley St. 0
2003: DSU 9, Mississippi Valley St. 0
2002: DSU 2, Northwestern Ok. 0
2001: SE Oklahoma St 7, DSU 4
2000: Alabama Huntsville 8, DSU 1
1999: North Alabama 1, DSU 0
1998: DSU 4, Lambuth 2
1997: DSU 4, William Carey 2
1996: DSU 6, Christian Brothers 0
1995: DSU 3, William Carey 0
1994: DSU 12, West Georgia 3
 
A LOOK BACK AT 2016

• The Lady Statesmen ended the 2016 season with a 34-20 record—the most wins in a season since 2008. The 34 victories were also a career high for head coach Casey-Bourgoyne-Charles.
• Delta State opened the 2016 season with a 12-0 start in GSC play—the best start since the Lady Statesmen won 11 straight in 2004. After taking two-of-three from then No. 3 Alabama Huntsville, Delta State received its first NFCA Top 25 ranking in school history. Delta State concluded the season going 1-2 at the 2016 GSC Tournament.
• Seniors Kassidy Tally and Kaitlin Moore were both named to the All-GSC First Team and received NFCA South Region honors.
• After hitting .417 with 73 hits, 22 doubles, and 51 RBIs, Moore was named to the CCA First Team All-South Region and CCA Honorable Mention All-American.
• Tally finished her career as the DSU and GSC leader with 230 stolen bases, which is third in NCAA Division II history. She received CCA Second Team All-South Region honors and the NFCA Golden Shoe.
• DSU played 21 games against NCAA Tournament teams and finished 7-14 in those contests.

 
CHASING 250

• Head coach Casey Bourgoyne-Charles is only 35 games away from her 250th career win. Last season, she elcipsed most wins in a season with  34. Under Charles, the Lady Statesmen are 98-74 at University Field, 62-90 on the road, and 55-61 at neutral sites.

 
DELTA STATE PICKED TO FINISH FIFTH IN GSC

• For the first time since 2011, the Delta State University softball team has been picked to finish in the top five of the Gulf South Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll. 
• Jumping one spot from last year, the Lady Statesmen were picked to finish fifth in the conference with 72 points.
• Defending GSC and national champion, the University of North Alabama was picked unanimously to finish first with 121 points. Alabama Huntsville was picked second with 105 points, followed by Valdosta State (98) and West Florida (92). 
• Delta State received three fourth place votes, five fifth place votes, one sixth place vote, one seventh place vote and one 10th place vote. Mississippi College (68 points), Shorter (64), West Georgia (54), Lee (51), West Alabama (32), Union (21) and Christian Brothers (14) rounded out the poll.
• The GSC Preseason Coaches' Poll is voted on by League's head coaches.

 
TWO LADY STATESMEN TAPPED 2017 GSC TOP NEWCOMERS

• Freshmen Olivia Dick and Mari Alex Sandridge were named to the GSC 2017 Top Newcomers list.
• Dick is an outfielder from Brandon, Miss. She played at Northwest Rankin High School under the direction of Britt Bennett and Taylor Hughes . She was named The Clarion-Ledger 's Best of MS Preps in 2015. She holds the season record for most hits (54) and stolen bases (51).
• Sandridge is a pitcher/outfielder from Hernando, Miss. She lettered in softball and basketball at Magnolia Heights High School.
• Dick and Sandridge highlight Delta State's 10 newcomers. The Lady Statesmen also return 12 letterwinners from last year's squad. 

 
UP NEXT

• Delta State will travel to Montevallo, Ala., for the Montevallo Falcon Frenzy Tournament. The Lady Statesmen will open the tournament against Miles College on Feb. 10 at 11:15 a.m.