GAME NOTES: Delta State @ UAH Charger Chillout (2.8-10.19)
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CLEVELAND, Miss. - Coming off a 4-1 start to the 2019 season at the Gulf Shores Invitational,  the Delta State University softball team will travel to the Charger Chillout, hosted by the University of Alabama in Huntsville, for a six-game road swing this Friday through Sunday, Feb. 8-10. The Lady Statesmen (4-1, 0-0 GSC) will face No. 12 Illinois-Springfield (0-0) and NCAA DII defending national champion and No. 1 ranked Southern Indiana (0-0) on Friday, Feb. 8 to jumpstart the Chillout. Live stats and complete recaps will be available for each game at GoStatesmen.com.

After stumbling out of the gate 1-0 to Embry Riddle, the Lady Statesmen reeled-off four consecutive victories to close the Gulf Shores Invitational with a 4-1 record, including a thrilling 1-0 victory over No. 5 Saint Leo (4-1) on Sunday, Feb. 3. Nicole Fullilove (2-1, 1.63 ERA) )pitched a 7.0 inning shutout in the win over SLU, allowing two hits with three walks and seven strikeouts. Delta State also claimed wins over Miles (11-3), Spring Hill (4-1) and Tuskegee (6-3). Senior infielder Kelly Byrd hit .467 for the weekend with a double, two home runs and a team-leading six RBIs. Freshman outfielder Ta'mya Johnson also had a big weekend at the plate, batting .267 with three doubles, one home run and five RBIs.     

Kelly Byrd, a senior infielder and 2019 Preseason All-GSC Team selection, and freshman outfielder Ta'mya Johnson, who was named one of the GSC's Top Newcomers, turned in outstanding performances at the plate in last week's Gulf Shores Invitational.  Byrd finished the five game tournament batting .467 with a double, two home runs, four runs scored and six RBIs while Johnson hit .267 with three doubles, a home run, three runs scored and five RBIs.

AROUND THE HORN: LADY STATESMEN FAST FACTS

• Freshman infielder Taylor Picou finished the weekend in Alabama batting .455 after going 5-for-11 at the plate. In the final two games of the GSI, the Morgan City, La., native went 2-for-2 versus Tuskegee and 2-for-3 against No. 5 Saint Leo.   
• Senior pitcher Nicole Fullilove (2-1, 1.68 ERA) delivered in a big way in the finale of the GSI, tossing a 7.0 inning, two hit shutout with seven strikeouts in Delta State's 1-0 win over No. 5 Saint Leo. She also had nine strikeouts versus Spring Hill.
• Nicole Fullilove, a senior right-handed pitcher, posted a 2-1 record and a 1.68 ERA in three starts for the Lady Statesmen in last week's Gulf Shores Invitational. After a slow start versus Embry Riddle, Fullilove tossed back-to-back complete games, including a 1-0 win over No. 5 Saint Leo that featured seven strikeouts. The Batesville, Miss., native turned in a solid campaign as a junior, going a 9-4 record with a 1.46 ERA. In 17 starts, Fullilove struck-out 76 batters in 116.0 innings pitched while allowing just 53 earned runs.
• Abi Gibson is entering her fourth season with the Lady Statesmen and is once again expected to play a large role in the middle infield. In 49 games last year, the Coldwater native batted .305 with 43 hits in 143 at-bats. She slapped seven doubles, one home run and drove in 18 runs. In 170 chances at shortstop, Gibson committed nine errors to finish with a .947 fielding percentage. Gibson is a career .302 hitter with 133 hits in 441 plate appearances. She has connected on 21 doubles, one triple and three home runs while driving in 60 in 149 games.
• Junior Mari Alex Sandridge had a solid weekend at the GSI, turning in a 2-0 record in the circle with victories over Miles College (11-3) and Tuskegee (6-3). In 12.1 innings pitched, the Hernando native allowed six runs on nine hits with three walks and six strikeouts.
• Senior outfielder Jordan Jones is looking to build off of her 2018 numbers this year for the Lady Statesmen. In 47 games, the Crystal Springs native hit .354 with 13 doubles, two triples, three home runs and 27 RBIs.
• Freshman outfielder Ta'mya Johnson was named to the Top Newcomers List for good reason. The Atoka, Tenn., native hit .267 with three doubles, three runs scored, a home run and five RBIs at the Gulf Shores Invitational.
• Casey Charles, a former All-Gulf South Conference shortstop for the Lady Statesmen from 1999-2002, is entering her 11th season as head coach at Delta State. In her previous 10 seasons, the Lady Statesmen are 266-276 with nine trips to the Gulf South Conference Tournament and a 2014 NCAA South Regional Tournament appearance. She has coached 21 All-GSC selections, four NFCA All-South Region players, and two D2CCA All-Region performers. Off the field, 77 Lady Statesmen have been named to the GSC Academic Honor Roll while five have won the prestigious Charles S. Kerg Senior Athlete of the Year Award at DSU.