Gulf Shores, Alabama – After rallying back to defeat Tuskegee University, 5-4, in game one, the Delta State University softball ended the second day of competition at the Gulf Coast Invite with a 3-1 loss to Embry-Riddle on Saturday, Feb. 4, at the Gulf Shores Sports Complex.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final (GM1): Delta State 5| Tuskegee 4
Final (GM2): Embry-Riddle 3 | Delta State 1
Location: Gulf Shores Sports Complex | Gulf Shores, Ala.
Records: Delta State (2-2) | Tuskegee (0-3) | Embry-Riddle (2-1)
Get Social: @DeltaStateSB
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1

• Madison's Zoeller's RBI single gave Delta State a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
• A home run to center and RBI single through the right gave Tuskegee a 2-1 lead heading into the top of the third.
• The score remained unchanged until the top of the sixth, when the Lady Statesmen began to make a comeback.
• Jordan Jones started the rally with a single to right field that scored Austin Pruitt to tie the game 2-2. She later scored on a double steal to put Delta State back on top. Gibson then drove in Hannah Salmon for Delta State's final run of the inning.
• But the Golden Tigers answered back in the bottom of the sixth when Nadia Ponder singled to right center plating Tuskegee's third run.
• In the top of the seventh, Zoeller scored Delta State's fifth run on a dropped fly by the shortstop.
• The Golden Tigers tried to make a comeback in the bottom of the seventh. Roneshia Rudolph singled to third base, scoring Shakayia Wilson for Tuskegee's fourth run. With runners at the corners, Taylor Johnson managed to shut down the inning and seal the win.
• Johnson earned the win to improve to 1-1 on the season. In seven innings of work, Johnson recorded eight strikeouts and allowed four runs on 10 hits.
• Jasmine Synder (0-1) took the loss as she allowed five runs, two earned, on 10 hits.
• Jones and Zoeller led the Lady Statesmen offense for a combined five hits, two runs, and two RBI's.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 2

• Embry-Riddle struck first when Kendall Funk fired a 2 RBI single to left field.
• In the top of the fourth, Pepper Baker doubled, score Austin Pruitt for Delta State's sole run of the game.
• The Eagles sealed the win in the bottom of the fourth, when Eryn Chester singled through the right side to score Hannah Thomas for third and final run of the game.
• Starting pitcher, Taylor Tucker (0-1) suffered the loss. In 3.2 innings of work, Tucker allowed three runs on five hits and struck-out two.
• Mari Alex Sandridge came on in relief of Tucker during the bottom of the fourth inning. In 2.1 innings, Sandridge gave up only one hit.  
• Illona Andringa (1-1) earned the win for Embry-Riddle, pitching the complete game. She struck out 10 batters, while allowing only one run on four hits.   

 
STAT OF THE DAY

• Delta State's four hits in game two were a season low.

 
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE

• Both of Delta State's wins this season have come when the Lady Statesmen score first.
• Gibson and Jones are now riding a four-game hitting streak.
• Johnson's eight strikeouts in game one were a career high.
• Tucker ranks 10^th in school history in games pitched (76).
• Baker's RBI double in game two was her third career double.

 
UP NEXT

The Lady Statesmen conclude the Gulf Shores Invite against North Georgia at 9 a.m. and Rollins at 11:30 a.m.