HUNTSVILLE, Alabama – The Delta State pitching staff put in a solid effort, but the Lady Statesmen offense could not find the breakthrough as the Lady Statesmen dropped both games of the doubleheader to the University of Alabama in Huntsville at Charger Park in Huntsville, Ala., on March 18.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final (GM1): UAH 1 | Delta State 0
Final (GM2): UAH 6 | Delta State 5
Location: Charger Park | Huntsville, Ala.
Records: Delta State (11-14, 5-9 GSC) | UAH (19-9, 9-5 GSC)
Get Social: @DeltaStateSB
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1
- The game remained a pitcher's duel until UAH finally found the breakthrough in the bottom of the third. With bases loaded, Erin Jewell drew a two-out walk to plate Reagan Malone for the only run of the game.
- In the top of the fifth inning the Lady Statesmen had their best chance at tying the game. With one out, Madison Zoeller singled through the right side for Delta State's sole hit of the game. She moved to second on a groundout, but Bailie Springfield struck out to end the inning.
- Mari Alex Sandridge did not see a 1-2-3 inning until the bottom of the sixth. Sandridge (2-4) suffered the loss in the circle. She allowed one run on three hits, and struck out three.
- Tyler Harrison (6-4) pitched the shutout for UAH. In 6.0 innings of work, she gave up only one hit.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 2
- The game remained scoreless through the first two innings.
- In the bottom of the third, UAH took a 1-0 lead off a two-out RBI single by Tyler Harrison.
- A lead-off walk came back to haunt the Lady Statesmen in the bottom of the fourth, as Brooke Miller scored on an RBI double by Sarah Jordan. Reagan Malone followed with a three-run home run to put the Chargers up 5-0. Taylor Johnson was called from the bullpen to replace starting pitcher Bailie Springfield. Harrison grounded out to finally end the inning.
- In the top of the fifth, Jordan Jones smashed a double to left field scoring Abi Gibson and Kara Lane Nowell, cutting the Chargers' lead 5-2.
- In the bottom of the fifth, UAH answered back with a two-out RBI triple by Shannon Long to lead 6-2.
- In the top of the sixth, Kory Watterson doubled to left center and scored on a single to left center by Kristen Mitchell, and the Lady Statesmen pulled within three. Nowell and Dick scored on an error by the shortstop, and DSU cut UAH's lead 6-5.
- Brittany Taylor shut the Chargers down in the bottom of the sixth to preserve the one-run deficit.
- The Lady Statesmen tried to make a comeback in the top of the seventh with runners on first and second, but a strikeout ended the game.
- Springfield (4-2) suffrered the loss. In 3.2 innings of work, Springfield allowed five runs, one earned, on four hits. In 1.1 innings of relief, Johnson allowed one run (earned) on three hits. Taylor was the only DSU pitcher not to give up a run to the Chargers. In one inning of relief, she gave up only three hits.
- Starting pitcher Emily Glover (10-3) earned the win, giving up five runs, three earned, on 10 hits. Harrison earned the save, giving up only one hit.
- Zoeller and Jones led the Lady Statesmen offense. Zoeller finished the day 4-for-6, while Jones went 1-for-7 with four RBIs.
STAT OF THE DAY
- Both games were decided by a factor of one run.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
- Delta State falls to 2-7 on the road.
- The Lady Statesmen are 4-3 in one run games.
- Despite the loss, Sandridge remains in the top 10 for lowest ERA in the GSC. The three hits she gave up in game one are the second lowest she's allowed in a start.
- Zoeller was the only Lady Statesman to record a hit in both games. She is currently riding a three-game hitting streak and three game on base streak.
- UAH holds an 12-4 advantage in the past 16 meetings.
- Jones' double in game was her 10th of the season. She is tied for second in the GSC in doubles.
- Jones also recorded her fourth multi-RBI game of the season to tie Zoeller for the lead in multi-RBI games.
UP NEXT
DSU will conclude the series with a single game on Sunday, March 19, at 1 p.m.
