MONTICELLO, Ark. -- The Delta State University softball team split a doubleheader with the University of Arkansas-Monticello on Tuesday afternoon. In game one, the Lady Statesmen held a 7-2 lead but gave up six unanswered runs to drop the first game 8-7. In game two, DSU never trailed and run-ruled UAM 12-2.  Olivia Burns earned her the win in game two and had a season high ten strikeouts.

DSU played ten games against the Great American Conference this season and won four and loss six.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Game 1: DSU 7, UAM 8
Game 2: DSU 12, UAM 2
Location:  Early Alvy Field | Oxford, Miss.
Records: Delta State (19-13, 11-7 GSC) | University of Arkansas Monticello (7-13, 6-11 GAC)
Get Social: @DeltaStateSB

GAME 1 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Lady Statesmen came out of the gate quickly in game one. After Summer Cryder was walked, Kailyn Lofton brought her into to score with a double.
• Then Jenny Griggers followed that up with a two run home run to make it 3-0 after the top of the first.
• UAM got on the board in the second inning when Madison Gardner hit a two run double to score Caroline Tedder and Grace Neal.
• DSU extended the lead in the fourth inning. Taylor Picou was hit by a pitch and then Cryder hit a deep two run home run over the left field fence to make it 5-2.
• Lofton led off the fifth inning with a solo home run to make it 6-2.
• Later in the fifth inning, Aly Gover was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to make it 7-2.
• In the bottom of the fifth, UAM took advantage of a couple of DSU errors and brought four runs across home plate to make it it 7-6.
• The Cotton Blossoms took the lead for the first time in the ball game in the bottom of the sixth with singles from Haley Godeaux and Neal to make it 8-7.
• In the top of the seventh, DSU got two runners on but could not bring a runner in to tie the game.

IN THE CIRCLE

• Lacey Coats (13-4) got the start and went the distance in the loss. She gave up 10 hits in six innings with two strikeouts. Of the eight runs UAM scored, only five were earned for Coats.
• Sam Stephens started the game for UAM. She went two and one-third of an inning and gave up three runs of four hits and walked four.
• Madison Chalenburg (2-4) earned the win in relief. She went four and two-thirds innings. She gave up five hits and four runs with five strikeouts.

NOTABLES (GM1)

• Griggers hit her second home run of the season.
• Cryder had her eighth home run of the season which is third best in the GSC.
• Lofton had her third home run of the season in game one.
• Lofton also went 4-4 from the plate with two RBI and two runs scored.
• The Lady Statesmen left ten on base in game one.

GAME 2

HOW IT HAPPENED

• DSU took the lead in the bottom of the first with an RBI single from Griggers scoring Cryder.
• Then Hope Harbin hit one up the middle and scored two to give the Lady Statesmen a 3-0 lead in the first.
• UAM scored one in the bottom of the first when Hannah Holbrook came across home plate on a wild pitch.
• In the top of the second, Griggers sliced another one into center field and scored Cryder for the second time in the game. Raegan Stafford tried to score from second base but was thrown out at home on the play.
• Jaclyn Deason got her first RBI on the day with a double in the third inning scoring Sara Lawrence.
• In the top of the fourth, Karly Bloesch and Deason each had an RBI double. Bloesch drove in Stafford while Deason brought in Lofton and Bloesch.
• UAM responded with a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth from Haley Cornell to make it 9-2.
• The Lady Statesmen added three more runs in the sixth inning. First, Karlie Stine got her first hit of the season. Then Katelyn Hayman brought her in with a sacrifice fly. Alyssa Branyan and Mary Sweatt both drove in runs to make it 12-2.
• Olivia Burns gave up two hits in the bottom of the sixth but gets three strikeouts to end the game early.

IN THE CIRCLE

• Burns got the start and went the distance for the Lady Statesmen. She picked up her fifth win of the season. She had a season high 10 strikeouts while only giving up two runs on four hits.
• Alexis Peavyhouse got the start and took the loss for UAM. She went three innings and gave up seven hits and five runs.
• Jaime Franks came in relief and in three innings gave up seven runs on five hits.

NOTABLES (GM 2)

• Bloesch was 3-4 with two runs and a RBI.
• Deason was 2-2 with three RBI.

UP NEXT

• The Lady Statesmen return home on Friday, April 2 for a double-header against the Valdosta State Lady Blazers. The first pitch at University Field will be at 1 PM on Friday afternoon.