CLEVELAND, Miss. -- The Delta State University softball team is scheduled to begin its 2018 season when it travels to Gulf Shores, Ala., for the Gulf Coast Invite. DSU is scheduled to play six games over three days, including a pair of contests against ranked opponents and four against 2017 NCAA Tournament teams.
 

DATE | OPPONENT | TIME	- Feb. 2 | No. 23 St. Leo | 10 a.m.  - Feb. 2 | Rollins | 12:15 p.m.  - Feb. 3 | Young Harris | 9 a.m.  - Feb. 3 | Miles | 11:15 a.m.  - Feb. 4 | No. 7 N. Georgia | 9 a.m.   - Feb. 4 | Young Harris | 11:15 a.m.
LIVE STATS	- vs. St. Leo  - vs. Rollins  - vs. Young Harris  - vs. Miles  - vs. North Georgia  - vs. Young Harris
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GAME NOTES	Lady Statesmen SB - Game Notes
SOCIAL MEDIA UPDATES	@DeltaStateSB

DELTA STATE OPENS AT PBC-GSC SOUTHERN SOFTBALL SHOWDOWN:
 

• The PBC-GSC Southern Softball Showdown will kick off the 30th season of DSU softball and the 10th under the direction of head coach Casey Bourgoyne-Charles.

THE FIRST PITCH - TOP STORYLINES THIS WEEK:
 

• The Lady Statesmen open year 10 under head coach Casey Bourgoyne-Charles at the Gulf Coast Invite. DSU went 2-4 at the GCI in 2017, including a 1-2 mark against 2018 opponents Miles, Rollins, and North Georgia. The Green-and-White defeated Miles 13-4, and fell to North Georgia (10-2) and Rollins (9-0) on the final day of the competition.
• DSU returns 58 percent of its hits from the 2017 team, including 10 of its 19 home runs. The Lady Statesmen also bring back 54 percent of their innings pitched, and 62 percent of strikeouts.
• Sophomore Mari Alex Sandridge was named Preseason All-GSC. The Olive Branch, Miss., native was named 2017 NFCA Second Team All-South Region and 2017 Second Team All-GSC following an outstanding freshman campaign that saw her finish the season as the team leader in slugging percentage (.540), on base percentage (.408), RBIs (29), home runs (seven), walks (15) and multi-RBI games (seven).
• Delta State returns nine letterwinners, five starting position players and three pitchers from last year's squad. Jordan Jones led the team in batting average (.338), hits (51), doubles (14), triples (3), total bases (74) and runs (27). Veteran shortstop Abi Gibson also returns for her junior season.  The Coldwater, Miss., native is a career .300 hitter with 14 doubles. Gibson has struck out just nine times in 300 (33.3) career at bats.

2017 IN REVIEW:
 

• DSU finished last season 21-25 with a 14-19 mark in Gulf South Conference play. The Lady Statesmen completed the first three-game sweep of Valdosta State in program history, and took a contest from 2017 World Series participant West Florida.

DSU IN SEASON OPENERS:
 

• DSU is 14-10 in its previous 24 season-opening contests:

2017: Missouri St. Louis 5, Delta State 3
2016: Armstrong State 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