GAME NOTES: No. 8 Alabama-Huntsville @ Delta State
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CLEVELAND, Miss. - The Delta State University softball team will wrap up its six-game home stand against nationally ranked opponents this weekend, as the Lady Statesmen (19-14, 9-9 GSC) host the No. 8 Chargers (28-8, 12-3 GSC) of the University of Alabama-Huntsville for a three-game series at University Field. Saturday's doubleheader is slated for a 1 p.m. start followed by the series finale on Sunday at 12 p.m. Streaming audio/video, live stats and complete game recaps will be available at GoStatesmen.com. Philip Tang will have the call on the Statesmen Sports Network.      

In the last decade, Delta State has posted a 9-23 record against Alabama Huntsville. The Lady Statesmen and Chargers met only once in 2018, a 5-4 DSU victory at the GSC Opening Weekend Festival in Montgomery, Ala., but DSU is 4-4 against UAH in the last eight meetings between the two schools.

The Lady Statesmen enter the weekend batting .282 as a team while averaging 4.8 runs per game. DSU features a 3.67 ERA and is allowing 4.0 runs a game. The Chargers come into the series with the league's best batting average (.366) and eighth ranked ERA (3.67). UAH is averaging an amazing 8.3 runs per game to lead the GSC.   

Delta State enters this weekend's series versus No. 8 Alabama Huntsville with a 3-3 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. DSU also lost three-straight last weekend to the new No. 1 in this week's NFCA Top 25 - West Florida.    

AROUND THE HORN: @DELTASTATESB NEWS & NOTES

• The Lady Statesmen are batting .280 with runners in scoring position this season while opponents are managing a .222 clip. Senior outfielder/utility Jordan Jones has been the best in these situations, hitting .447 (21-for-47) including 26 of her 33 RBIs. Kelly Byrd is also batting .433 (13-for-30) with RISP.
   
• Mari Alex Sandridge, a junior pitcher/outfielder for the Lady Statesmen, enters the weekend series versus No. 8 Alabama Huntsville batting .290 (9-for-31) with two doubles, a triple, one home run and five RBIs while posting a 6-4 record in the circle in 16 appearances and 12 starts. In 67.1 innings pitched, Sandridge has allowed 60 runs, 51 earned, on 83 hits with 37 strikeouts. The Hernando native is a career .315 hitter with 11 home runs and 48 RBIs in 113 games played. She is also 14-20 as a pitcher with 135 strikeouts.
   
• Kelly Byrd continues to lead the Lady Statesmen at the plate, batting .449 with 10 doubles, seven home runs and 26 RBIs. The Terry native currently ranks fifth in the GSC in batting while leading the league in on-base percentage. Her seven home runs are tied for fourth in the GSC with her 25 walks ranking third. She has also scored 28 runs in 89 at-bats.
   
• Nicole Fullilove enters the weekend leading the GSC in wins (11) and strikeouts (93). The senior from Batesville is 11-8 in the circle for the Lady Statesmen with a 2.43 ERA. In her 19 starts, Fullilove has thrown 114.0 innings while allowing 48 runs, 41 earned, on 104 hits. The hard-throwing right-handed pitcher has struck-out 93 batters with just 28 walks. Opponents are hitting just .234 against her.
   
• Jordan Jones enters the series hitting .346 (36-of-104) with eight doubles, five home runs and a team-leading 33 RBIs. She is tied for fifth in the GSC in RBIs (33) and sixth in doubles (8). The four-year letter winner has recorded 10 multiple hit games and eight multiple RBI games. A career .335 hitter, the Crystal Springs native rsanks fifth in school history with 42 career doubles and 10th in hits with 181.
   
• Ta'mya Johnson has found her swing again as a true freshman mainstay in the lineup, hitting .282 with six doubles, three home runs and 22 RBIs. She has scored 15 runs on the year & second on the club with eight multi-RBI 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 .280 with 22 runs scored, five doubles and five RBIs. The four-year letter winner and three-time GSC All-Academic Team pick is a career .298 hitter with 161 hits, 26 doubles and 113 runs scored.
   
• Delta State enters the weekend series versus No. 8 Alabama Huntsville 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 281-289 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.