JACKSON, Tenn. — The Delta State University softball team put together two late rallies but came up short in both ends of Friday's doubleheader at Union University, falling 8–6 in Game 1 and 10–6 in Game 2 at Fesmire Field.
Game 1: Union 8, Delta State 6
Delta State (2–8) clawed back from an early 5–1 deficit with a four-run fifth inning, but Union held off the comeback to take the opener.
The Lady Statesmen struck first in the top of the second as
Carly Dunigan hit a solo home run to left center field to give DSU an early 1-0 lead
Union struck for five runs in the second, capitalizing on two DSU errors and a two-run homer from C. Jones. The Lady Statesmen answered in the fifth when
Dunigan ripped a two-run double and
Ally Agner followed with a two-run double of her own, tying the game at 5–5.
Union regained the lead with two runs in the bottom half, then added another in the third to make it 8–5.
Callie McConnell homered in the sixth to pull DSU within two, but the Statesmen stranded the tying run at the plate in the seventh.
Dunigan finished 3-for-3 with three RBI, while Agner added three hits and two RBI. M. Lavoy took the loss after Union's five-run second inning.
Game 2: Union 10, Delta State 6
Union (5–8) jumped out early again in Game 2, scoring seven runs across the first two innings and adding three more in the third to build a 10–1 lead.
Delta State refused to fold, scoring twice in the fifth and erupting for
three runs in the seventh, highlighted by
a two-run double from Kyleigh Wheaton and an RBI single from
Mary Teague.
Center fielder
Joryie McKnight sparked the offense with three runs scored and two hits, including a stolen base. Wheaton went 3-for-4 with two RBI, and McConnell added two hits and two RBI.
After a difficult first inning, the DSU bullpen steadied the game.
Ellie Cox delivered 3.2 scoreless innings, allowing four hits with two strikeouts.
Union's early surge proved too much to overcome, and DSU's seventh inning rally ended with the tying run on deck.
The Lady Statesmen and the Lady Bulldogs conclude their three-game series tomorrow afternoon with a single game starting at 12:00 p.m. (CT) from Fesmire Field.
