GAME NOTES: West Alabama @ Delta State (4.14-15.19)
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CLEVELAND, Miss. - The Delta State University softball team welcomes the University of West Alabama for a three-game Gulf South Conference series this weekend at University Field. The Lady Statesmen (21-18, 11-13 GSC) and the Tigers (22-17, 11-9 GSC) will play a doubleheader on Sunday, April 14 starting at 2 p.m. with the series finale set for 1 p.m. on Monday. Streaming audio/video, live stats and complete game recaps will be available at GoStatesmen.com.

Prior to Sunday's doubleheader with UWA, the Lady Statesmen will honor their five seniors in a special ceremony at 1:45 p.m. at University Field. The 2019 senior class includes Kelly Byrd (1B | Terry), Nicole Fullilove (P | Batesville), Abi Gibson (SS | Coldwater), Jordan Jones (OF | Crystal Springs), and Brittany Taylor (P | Myrtle).     

In the last decade, Delta State has posted an 10-18 record against West Alabama, including a 6-6 mark at University Field. The Lady Statesmen dropped games one and three of last year's series in Livingston, while claiming a 7-4 win in game two in Livingston.

The Lady Statesmen enter the weekend batting .280 as a team while averaging 5.0 runs per game. DSU features a 3.99 ERA and is allowing 4.5 runs a game. The Tigers come into the series batting .280 as well, ranking 10th in the GSC, and fifth in ERA (3.54). UWA is averaging 5.2 runs per game while allowing 4.5 per contest.

AROUND THE HORN: LADY STATESMEN SENIOR SPOTLIGHT

• Senior outfielder Jordan Jones continues her onslaught of the DSU Record Book. The four-year letter-winner from Crystal Springs ranks in the top 10 in five offensive categories, including batting average (10th - .331), hits (10th - 185), doubles (4th - 44), and stolen bases (5th - 67). Jones enters the weekend series versus UWA batting .328 with 10 doubles, five home runs, 23 runs scored, and a team-leading 39 RBIs. She is also 11-of-12 in stolen base attempts.
   
• Kelly Byrd has put together a phenomenal two-year career at DSU, ranking 2nd in career batting average (.389) and 6th in home runs (19). The 2018 NFCA All-Region & All-GSC performer is batting .413 with 12 doubles, a team-leading eight home runs and 31 RBIs. She has also walked 29 times and recorded seven HBPs.
   
• Nicole Fullilove has quietly put together a solid two-year career for the Lady Statesmen, posting a 21-14 record with a 3.15 ERA and 192 strikeouts. The Batesville native ranks 9th on the DSU career strikeouts list and 5th on the single-season chart with 116 this season. In 23 starts this year, Fullilove is 12-10 with a 3.11 ERA. Her 139.2 innings pitched leads the GSC while her 116 strikeouts rank third.
   
• Brittany Taylor has appeared in 20 games in her DSU career since transferring from NE Miss. CC, posting a 3-4 record and a 4.77 ERA. The  
• Abi Gibson, a four-year starter at shortstop, has been a mainstay for the Lady Statesmen since stepping on campus. The Coldwater native & former All-GSC selection has played in 188 games, batting .294 with 163 hits, 26 doubles, three home runs and 66 RBIs. Her 119 runs scored rank 7th on the DSU career charts & her 421 assists and third.
   
• Delta State enters this weekend's series versus West Alabama with a 4-5 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. The Lady Statesmen won game three, 9-8, against No. 8 Alabama Huntsville last weekend, but dropped games one (8-0) and two (2-1).
      
• The Lady Statesmen are batting .281 with runners in scoring position this season while opponents are managing a .246 clip. Senior outfielder/utility Jordan Jones has been the best in these situations, hitting .444 (24-for-54) including 30 of her 39 RBIs. Kelly Byrd is also batting .400 (14-for-35) with RISP.
   
• Delta State enters the weekend series versus West Alabama with a 22-2 record when leading after five innings of play. The Lady Statesmen are 11-2 when leading after five and 11-0 after six.
   
• The Lady Statesmen are 16-2 this season when out hitting their opponents.
   
• Delta State is 12-4 this season when scoring six or more runs in a game. The Lady Statesmen are 7-4 when scoring 6-9 runs in a game and 5-0 when plating 10+ in a contest.
   
• The Lady Statesmen are 11-3 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 283-293 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.