GAME NOTES: Delta State at Christian Brothers (3.16-17.19)
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CLEVELAND, Miss. - The Delta State University softball team will take its six-game winning streak on the road this weekend for a three-game Gulf South Conference series at Christian Brothers University. The Lady Statesmen (16-9, 6-6 GSC) and the Lady Bucs (6-18, 1-10 GSC) will play a doubleheader on Saturday, March 16 at 12 p.m. at Bland Field followed by Sunday's series finale at 1 p.m. Live stats and complete game recaps will be available at GoStatesmen.com.

Delta State and Christian Brothers are meeting for the 79th time on the diamond in a series that dates back to 1995. The Lady Statesmen, who lead the series standings 67-11, have won 14-straight against the Lady Bucs and are 27-7 against CBU during coach Casey Charles' tenure. DSU is 6-6 at Bland Field and 20-1 at University Field over the last 10 seasons. In last year's series sweep, the Lady Statesmen outscored CBU 35-11 and in the last 10 seasons DSU has outscored CBU 211-100.   

The Lady Statesmen have won six straight, including five at home, since a 3-1 series ending win at Shorter. Delta State swept West Georgia last weekend at University Field 6-0, 6-5 and 2-0 before claiming a Tuesday doubleheader against Harding 3-0 and 9-8. The Lady Statesmen have outscored the opposition 29-14 during the last six games.

AROUND THE HORN: @DELTASTATESB NEWS & NOTES:

• Senior first baseman Kelly Byrd is having a phenomenal year, batting .492 with a GSC-leading six home runs.  The Terry native has reached base in 24-of-25 games for DSU, thanks in part to 22 walks. Byrd also ranks in the GSC top 15 in batting average (3rd), slugging percentage (1st), on-base percentage (1st), hits (10th), RBIs (T-10th), and walks (2nd). The two-year starter and 2018 NFCA All-Region selection is a career .395 hitter with 15 doubles, three triples, 17 home runs and 70 RBIs. In 200 at-bats, she has 80 hits, 40 walks and 21 hit-by-pitches for an incredible .527 on-base percentage.
   
• Jordan Jones has been on a tear recently for the Lady Statesmen, hitting safely in her last seven games. The Crustal Springs native is batting .359 on the season with 28 hits in 78 at-bats, including five doubles, four home runs and a team-leading 27 RBIs. She has also scored 17 runs and swiped 7-of-8 bases. Jones is hitting a blistering .514 with runner's in scoring position. Her four home runs and 27 RBIs are both tied for fourth best in the GSC.
   
• Abi Gibson continues to shine at the plate and in the field during her senior season. The Coldwater native is batting .297 (22-for-74) with 17 runs scored. The four-year letter winner and three-time GSC All-Academic Team pick leads the team with 56 assists as well. In 172 games, including 170 starts, Gibson is batting .303 with 155 hits, 107 runs scored, 26 doubles, one triple, three home runs and 65 RBIs.
   
• Junior catcher Carlie Vice is having a solid season behind the dish, batting .258 with two doubles, a pair of home runs and 10 RBIs. She has reached base safely in 10 of DSU's last 11 games and ranks second on the team with 106 POs.
   
• Kailyn Lofton, a sophomore second baseman, has started to pick it up at the plate with a home run and five RBIs in her last six games. The Bayou Academy product is also 7-for-7 in stolen base attempts to tie for the team lead.
   
• The Lady Statesmen are batting .283 with runners in scoring position this season while opponents are managing a .217 clip. Senior outfielder/utility Jordan Jones has been the best in these situations, hitting .514 (18-for-35) with 19 of her 27 RBIs. In Tuesday's 9-8 walk-off win, Jones providied a three-run home run and the game-winning RBI-single to left-center. Kelly Byrd is also batting .500 (10-for-20) with RISP.
   
• Delta State senior right-handed pitcher Nicole Fullilove is coming into the weekend series at CBU leading the GSC in wins (9), innings pitched (92.0) and strikeouts (68). In her 15 starts for the Lady Statesmen, the Batesville native has recorded 11 complete games.
   
• Delta State enters this weekend's series versus Christian Brothers with a 3-0 record against teams ranked in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Top 25 Poll. The Lady Statesmen upended No. 5 Saint Leo (1-0) at the Gulf Shores Invitational followed by back-to-back victories over No. 12 Illinois-Springfield (9-7) and No. 1 Southern Indiana (13-4) at the Charger Chillout in Huntsville, Ala.
   
• 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 278-284 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 Delta State.