Gulf Shores, Alabama – After dropping the first game 5-3 to No. 22 University of Missouri – St. Louis, the Delta State University softball team bounced back to defeat Miles College 13-4 in five innings at the Gulf Coast Invitational on Friday, Feb. 3, at the Gulf Shores Commons Softball Complex.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final (GM1): No. 22 UMSL 5 | Delta State 3
Final (GM2): Delta State 13, Miles College 4 (5)
Location: Gulf Shores Sports Complex | Gulf Shores, Ala.
Records: Delta State (1-1) | UMSL (1-1) | Miles College (0-2)
Get Social: @DeltaStateSB
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1

• A solo shot to centerfield in the top of the second inning gave UMSL the early 1-0 lead.
• In the top of the third, Serena Olson homered to centerfield to give the Tritons a 2-0 lead.
• In the top of the fifth, Ryan Logan and Alex Stupek doubled to increase the Triton's lead 4-0.
• The Lady Statesmen started to make a comeback in the bottom of the fifth, scoring three runs. Carah Nunez started the inning off with a single to rightfield. Austin Pruitt came on as a pinch runner for Nunez and scored on a groundout. Mari Alex Sandridge singled to leftfield to score Jordan Jones, and Gibson singled to center to score Kara Lane Nowell for DSU's third and final run.
• The Lady Statesmen were able to hold the Tritons to a one-run lead until the top of the seventh, when the Tritons scored their fifth and final run of the game.
• Taylor Johnson (0-1) took the loss as she allowed two runs, all earned earned, on three hits in 2.1 innings.
• The Lady Statesmen combined for six hits and six strikeouts off two different pitchers. Starting pitcher Andee Tiffee earned the win for the Tritons in five innings of work as she allowed three runs, one earned, on four hits.  
• Gibson went 2-for-4 with an RBI to lead the Lady Statesmen offense.

 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 2

• The Lady Statesmen bounced back scoring first in the first inning. Mari Alex Sandridge scored on a sac fly by Kory Watterson to give Delta State a 1-0 lead.
• In the bottom of the inning, Miles tied the game one-all with an RBI double to right center.
• Delta State responded with a five-run rally in the top of the second. Gibson doubled down the rightfield line to score Olivia Dick and Jordan Jones. Sandridge scored Delta State's fourth run on a muffed throw.  Watterson followed with a double to left center, scoring Zoeller and Gibson.
• In the bottom of the second, Kathryne Lambert's RBI single cut Delta State's lead 6-2.
• RBI singles from Zoeller, Nunez and Jones, and a bases-loaded walk put the Lady Statesmen up 10-2 in the top of the fourth.
• The Golden Bears answered back with an RBI single to right center, making the score 10-3.
• In the bottom of the fifth, Zoeller singled to score Gibson and later scored on a wild pitch to put Delta State up 11-3. Jones then grounded out, scoring Shelby Newsom for Delta State's 13^th and final run of the game.
• The Golden Bears tried to make a comeback in the bottom of the fifth when Lambert grounded out to score McDaniel for Miles' fourth run of the game. But the mercy rule kicked in, and the Lady Statesmen shut the Golden Bears down to conclude the game.  
• Starting pitcher Brittany Taylor earned her first victory of the season. In three innings of work, she allowed two runs (both earned) on three hits.
• Sandridge, Gibson, and Zoeller led the Lady Statesmen offense in game two for a combined seven hits, nine runs, and four RBIs.
• Jakari Sugg suffered the loss for the Golden Bears. She allowed 10 runs (nine earned) on 11 hits in four innings.     

 
STAT OF THE DAY

•  Delta State's 13 runs in game two came off 14 hits.

 
 
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE

• The Lady Statesmen move to 14-10 in their previous 24 season opening contests.
• Gibson led the Lady Statesmen going 5-for-8 with three RBIs and three runs scored.

 
 
UP NEXT

•  The Lady Statesmen battle Tuskegee at 10 a.m. and Embry-Riddle University at 12:30 p.m. for day two of the Gulf Shores Invite.