Box Score CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- The Delta State University softball team rallied five runs in the ninth inning to earn an 8-3 win over Lee University in game one of a three-game Gulf South Conference series on Friday.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
FINAL: DSU 8, LEE 3 (9 Inn.)
LOCATION:  Stanley Butler Softball Field | Cleveland, Tenn.
RECORDS: Delta State (11-7, 6-4 GSC) | Lee (5-8, 3-4 GSC)
GET SOCIAL:  @DeltaStateSB

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Lady Statesmen took an early 1-0 lead when Olivia Burns scored on a single by Summer Cryder in the second inning.
• In the bottom of the fourth, Annalyn Ormsby hit a home run to left field to give the Flames a 2-1 lead.
• Cryder hit a solo home run in the top of the fifth to tie the game 2-2.
• Lady Statesmen grabbed a 3-2 lead odf a solo homerun by Taylor Picou to left center in the top of the sixth.
• Lee answered in the bottom of the sixth, tying the game 3-3 on a Laney Harris' sac-fly.
• Delta State broke the tie with a five-run ninth to take an 8-3 lead. Cryder singled up the middle to plate Sara Lawrence. Kailyn Lofton reached on a fielding error that allowed Cryder to score. Hope Harbin singled through the right side to score Raegan Stafford. Jenny GRiggers scored on a Picou grounded out and Jaclyn Deason singled through to left field to plate Lofton.
• Coats worked a scoreless bottom of the ninthl to close the win for the Lady Statesmen.

IN THE CIRCLE

• Lacey Coats (9-2) tossed a a complete game in the circle, giving up three runs off nine hits with two strikeouts in nine innings of work.
• Lee starter Madison Barnett gave up three runs off eight hits with three strikeouts over six innings.
• Grace Leslie (1-6) suffered the loss in relief of Barnett. Leslie yielding five runs on four hits and five runs with a strikeout in three innings of work.

 
NOTABLES

• Cryder went 5-for-5 with three RBI to lead the Lady Statesmen.
• Harbin had Raegan Stafford each had two hits to help the Delta State 12-hit outing.
• Annalyn Ormsby went 3-for-4 with two RBI for the Flames.

UP NEXT
Delta State and Lee conclude the series with a doubleheader on Saturday at 12 p.m. (CT).