CLEVELAND, Miss. -- The Delta State University softball team is scheduled to begin its 2018 Gulf South Conference slate when it travels to Montgomery, Ala., for the GSC Opening Weekend Festival, at Lagoon Park.
 

DATE | OPPONENT | TIME	- Feb. 17 | Montevallo | Noon  - Feb. 17 | Alabama Huntsville | 2:30  p.m.  - Feb. 18 | No. 3 West Florida | Noon
LIVE STATS	- vs.Montevallo  - vs. Alabama Huntsville  - vs. West Florida
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GAME NOTES	Lady Statesmen SB - Game Notes
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DELTA STATE OPENS LEAGUE SCHEDULE AT GSC OPENING WEEKEND FESTIVAL:
 

• DSU is scheduled to open its 2018 Gulf South Conference schedule when it travels to Montgomery, Ala., for the GSC Opening Weekend Festival. The Lady Statesmen are set to face Montevallo and Alabama Huntsville on Saturday, Feb. 17, before finishing the weekend with No. 3 West Florida on Sunday, Feb. 18.

THE FIRST PITCH - TOP STORYLINES THIS WEEK:

• The Lady Statesmen enter the GSC Opening Weekend Festival with a 4-6 record, and are fresh off a 10-1 mercy rule victory over Indianapolis on Feb. 9 at the UAH Charger Chillout. DSU dropped a pair of contests by one run at the event.
• Freshman Mallory Myers leads the Lady Statesmen, among players with more than 15 at bats, with a .303 batting average. Her six RBI's, from the leadoff spot in the batting order, are tied for second on the team.
• Kelly Byrd led DSU at the Charger Chillout, as she went 6-for-10 with two triples, a double, a sac fly, five RBIs and four runs. She also walked twice and was hit by a pitch three times. The Terry, Miss., native had an on base percentage of .688, as she reached base safely 11-of-15 times.
• 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.

AGAINST THE OPPONENTS:

• Last season the Lady Statesmen were 1-0 against Montevallo, 0-3 against Alabama Huntsville and 1-2 against West Florida. DSU defeated UM 14-1 at the Falcon Frenzy. UAH claimed a pair of one-run victories at Charger Park against DSU, while the Lady Statesmen claimed a 7-3 decision at West Florida and dropped another by a single run. UWF advanced to the NCAA Division II World Series last season.