CLEVELAND, Miss. -- The Delta State University softball team is scheduled to open its Gulf South Conference road slate when it travels to Valdosta, Ga.,for a three-game series with No. 20 Valdosta State University. First pitch for Saturday's doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT.
 

DATE | OPPONENT | TIME	- Feb. 24 | Valdosta State | 1 p.m.  - Feb. 24 | Valdosta State | 3:00  p.m.  - Feb. 25 | Valdosta State | Noon
LIVE STATS	- at Valdosta State
LIVE STREAM	- at Valdosta State
GAME NOTES	Lady Statesmen SB - Game Notes
SOCIAL MEDIA UPDATES	@DeltaStateSB

DELTA STATE TRAVELS TO NO. 20 VALDOSTA STATE:

• DSU is scheduled to open its 2018 Gulf South Conference road schedule when it travels to No. 20 Valdosta State. The teams are scheduled for a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 24 and a single game on Sunday.

•The Lady Statesmen enter their first true road series of their 2018 Gulf South Conference slate, as they visit the No. 20 Valdosta State Lady Blazers. DSU openend its conference schedule by going 2-1 at the GSC Opening Weekend Festival, earning come-from-behind victories against Montevallo and Alabama Huntsville. DSU trailed Montevallo 6-1 in the fifth inning, before coming back to earn a 7-6 (9) victory. On the same day, Alabama-Huntsville had a 4-0 lead, but the Lady Statesmen scored five runs in the fifth inning and held on for the win. On Monday, Feb. 19 DSU swept a non-conference doubleheader from Miles.

•Kaitlyn Eaves, who is 11 for her last 15 at the plate now leads the Lady Statesmen with a .375 batting average. The LSU-Alexandria transfer hit her first home run at Delta State in the 12-0 victory over Miles.

•Olivia Dick, who overcame a slow start at the plate, is now batting .343 with a double and four RBIs. The sophomore has nine hits in her last 19 at-bats, including a 3-for-4 game against Montevallo in the GSC opener.

•Senior Taylor Johnson leads the team with a 4-2 record and a 1.91 ERA. The Long Beach, Miss., native has not allowed an earned run in her last 12 innings. Freshman Madison Bigner leads DSU with 21 strikeouts in 18.2 innings. Bigner kept UAH off the scoreboard for 3.1 innings to earn her first collegiate win.
 
•Through 15 games, the Lady Statesmen have 112 hits, which ranks third in the GSC. Of those 112 hits, 28 (25 percent) are for extra bases. DSU leads the league with 28 hit by pitch, while Valdosta State and North Alabama (13) are second.
 
•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 earned three victories over VSU. The sweep was the first in program history against the Lady Blazers.