CLEVELAND, Miss. -- Kelly Byrd had a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift the Delta State University softball team to a 2-1 victory over visiting Shorter, in Gulf South Conference action, on Sunday at University Field.

FINAL SCORE: DELTA STATE 2 (18-16, 9-9 GSC), SHORTER 1 (12-16, 7-10 GSC)
 
GAME CHANGER:
- Kelly Byrd's base hit, with one out in the bottom of the seventh, down the left field line gave the Lady Statesmen a walk-off win.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- The Lady Statesmen outhit the visitors 7-6.
- Olivia Dick (2-for-3) was the only DSU player with multiple hits.
- Abi Gibson reached safely all three times, as she was walked twice and had a base hit.
- DSU did not record its first hit until the third inning.
- Nicole Fullilove (4-1) allowed just two hits with four strikeouts in five innings of relief.

KEY PLAYS:
- For the third straight game the Lady Hawks scored in the opening frame, as Maddie Hunt, who reached on an error, scored single by Kaylee Combs.
- In the third inning the Lady Statesmen had the bases loaded with just one out, but failed to score.
- DSU tied the game in the fifth on an RBI single by Mallory Myers that scored Gibson. In the same inning, the Lady Statesmen had a chance to take the lead,
  but left a pair of runners stranded.
- Both teams left two runners on in the sixth inning.
- Dick singled to start the bottom of the seventh and advanced to second on a pinch-hit single by Kaitlyn Eaves. On the same play, Dick advanced to third on
  a throwing error by the third baseman. Byrd then drove a pitch down the left field line to give DSU the win.
 
NOTEWORTHY:
- With the win, DSU earned its first GSC sweep of the season.
- All three games were decided by one run.
- DSU is now 8-3 in one run games.
- Byrd has reached base safely in 13 straight games.
- The five-game win streak is the longest for DSU since 2016.

UP NEXT:
- The Lady Statesmen are scheduled to continue their homestand when they welcome Christian Brothers for a three-game GSC series. A doubleheader is scheduled for Friday, March 30 and a single game is on the slate for Saturday, March 31. First pitch for Friday's doubleheader is set for 2 p.m.