Game Notes
CLEVELAND, Miss. -- Coming off of a 2-2 showing at the Harding Invitational, the Delta State University softball team travels to Huntsville, Ala. to take on the University of Alabama in Huntsville to open Gulf South Conference play.
The Lady Statesmen will play a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 15 at noon and 2 p.m. A single game will follow Sunday, Feb. 16 at noon. Delta State sits at 3-5 overall on the campaign after splitting four games in Searcy, Ark. DSU knocked off Midwestern State 5-0 to open the weekend, then followed that up with a 2-1 victory over Northeastern State.
On the second day of the tournament, the Green-and-White dropped two games against Drury University (4-0) and Harding University (9-1). This weekend the Lady Statesmen begin a run of 12 straight conference games, including six of those coming away from home.
OPPONENTS: The Chargers of Alabama-Huntsville sport a 5-4 record after opening the year with wins over Bellarmine and Kentucky Wesleyan. UAH then fell to Trevecca Nazarene in two straight games before grabbing an upset win over No. 8. Florida Tech. Alabama-Huntsville also added a win over Molloy College. Mackenzie Nutt leads the team with a .400 batting average, 10 hits and eight RBI. Kiara Akles leads the team with two home runs. In the circle, Sydnee Uhlman is the team leader with eight strike outs and owns a team-leading 2.21 era. UAH has the most hits to this point in the GSC with 75, and is second in the GSC in batting average at .318.
YOUTH ABOUNDS ON LADY STATESMEN: The Lady Statesmen employed a batting lineup featuring four freshmen.
Haley Simpson had an outstanding weekend in Searcy, finishing with a .364 batting average with two RBI and one double.
Jenny Griggers also drove in a run for the Lady Statesmen.
Callie Newman added a triple and leads DSU in batting average.
Jaclyn Deason also started four games for Delta State at first base.
IN THE CIRCLE: Junior
Olivia Burns posted a 2.21 ERA and a 2-1 record in Delta State's weekend split at the Harding Invitational. She struck out 12 batters and allowed 13 hits in 15.2 innings. In two appearances at Harding,
Emily Baker did not allow any runs and struck out three in 5.1 innings.
EXPERIENCE ON THE INFIELD: Sophomore
Taylor Picou, a Morgan City, La. native, wrapped up the weekend with a .300 batting average. Picou and Deason both finished the weekend with a perfect fielding percentage of 1.000.
UPCOMING: The Lady Statesmen open up their GSC home schedule next weekend as they welcome Christian Brothers to University Field. The two teams play Saturday, Feb. 22 at 2 p.m. before a pair of games on Saturday at noon and 2 p.m.
