GAME NOTES: No. 3 West Florida (28-4) @ Delta State (19-11)
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CLEVELAND, Miss. - After playing 22 of its first 30 games on the road, the Delta State University softball team returns to University Field for a six-game homestand against No. 3 West Florida (28-4) and No. 10 Alabama Huntsville (24-7) over the next two weekends. The Lady Statesmen (19-11, 9-6 GSC) host the Argonauts (28-4, 11-1 GSC) open the three-game series with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 23 at 2 p.m. followed by the series finale on Sunday, March 24 at 1 p.m. Streaming audio/video and live stats will be available at GoStatesmen.com.      

In the last decade under head coach Casey Charles leadership, Delta State has posted a 9-18 record against West Florida. The Lady Statesmen are 4-4 at University Field and 3-10 in Pensacola, Fla., during that time. DSU went 0-2 against UWF in 2018, falling 3-1 in the GSC Opening Festival in Montgomery, Ala., and 5-4 in the second round of the GSC Tournament in Florence, Alabama.

The Lady Statesmen enter the weekend batting .285 as a team while averaging 4.8 runs per game. DSU features a 3.75 ERA and is allowing 4.0 runs a game. The Argonauts come into the series with the league's best ERA (1.36) while hitting .355 as a team. UWF is putting up 6.8 runs per game while surrendering 1.7 runs per game.    

Delta State enters this weekend's series versus No. 3 West Florida 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 University of Alabama-Huntsville Charger Chillout in Huntsville, Ala.

AROUND THE HORN: @DELTASTATESB NEWS & NOTES:

• Kelly Byrd continues to lead the Lady Statesmen at the plate, batting .463 with 10 doubles, seven home runs and 25 RBIs. The Terry native currently ranks fourth in the GSC in batting while leading the league in on-base percentage. Her seven home runs are third in the GSC with her 24 walks ranking second. She has also scored 27 runs in 80 at-bats.
   
• Jordan Jones carries a 12-game hitting streak into this weekend's series with No. 3 West Florida. The Crystal Springs native is hitting .354 (34-of-96) on the year with eight doubles, four home runs and 31 RBIs. She is tied for fourth in the GSC in RBIs (31) and doubles (8). The four-year letter winner has recorded nine multiple-hit games and seven multiple RBI games. Her 42 career doubles are currently fifth in school history.
   
• Nicole Fullilove enters the weekend leading the GSC in wins (11), innings pitched (106.0) and strikeouts (91). The senior from Batesville is 11-6 in the circle for the Lady Statesmen with a 2.31 ERA. In her 17 starts, Fullilove has thrown 106.0 innings while allowing 40 runs, 35 earned, on 88 hits. The hard-throwing right-handed pitcher has struck-out 91 batters with just 25 walks. Opponents are hitting just .221 against her.
   
• Ta'mya Johnson has found her swing again as a mainstay in the lineup as a true freshman, hitting .301 with six doubles, two home runs and 21 RBIs. She has scored 14 runs on the year and has hit safely in her last four games.
   
• Abi Gibson, a four-year starter at shortstop, continues to shine at the plate and in the field during her final season at Delta State. The Coldwater native is batting .297 (27-for-91) with 22 runs scored, five doubles and five RBIs. The four-year letter winner and three-time GSC All-Academic Team pick leads the team with 64 assists, which ranks sixth in the GSC as well. In 179 games, including 177 starts, Gibson is batting .301 with 160 hits, 113 runs scored, 26 doubles, one triple, three home runs and 65 RBIs. Her 404 career assists rank second on the school's career chart.
   
• Mallory Myers is heating up at the plate for the Lady Statesmen, raising her average 30 points to .268 (22-of-82) in the last 10 games. The sophomore outfielder has scored 19 runs with a double and three RBIs in 26 games, including 21 starts. She is a career .279 hitter (64-of-229) with five doubles, a triple, 20 RBIs and 45 runs scored in 76 games.
   
• The Lady Statesmen are batting .299 with runners in scoring position this season while opponents are managing a .221 clip. Senior outfielder/utility Jordan Jones has been the best in these situations, hitting .476 (20-for-42) including 24 of her 31 RBIs. Kelly Byrd is also batting .462 (12-for-26) with RISP.
   
• Delta State enters the weekend series versus No. 3 West Florida with a 20-1 record when leading after five innings of play. The Lady Statesmen are 10-1 when leading after five and 10-0 after six.
   
• The Lady Statesmen are 14-2 this season when out-hitting their opponents.
   
• Delta State is 10-2 this season when scoring six or more runs in a game. The Lady Statesmen are 6-2 when scoring 6-9 runs in a game and 4-0 when plating 10+ in a contest.
   
• The Lady Statesmen are 11-2 when allowing two or fewer runs in a game, including four shutouts.
           
• 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 281-286 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.