LIVINGSTON, Ala. – Delta State senior Amber Adcock belted three total homeruns through two games, including a grand slam in game one, to lead the Lady Statesmen to a doubleheader sweep over West Alabama in the Gulf South Conference season opener at the UWA Softball Complex Saturday. DSU scored four runs in the top of the eighth inning to win game two 7-5, while stunting a comeback from the Tigers to win game two 17-14.
 
Delta State improves to 9-1 overall with a 2-0 start in GSC play, while West Alabama falls to 5-5 and 0-2.
 
The Tigers took a 2-0 lead in the second inning of game one, on a Lydia North two-run single. Tied at 3-3 in the top of the eighth, Adcock's gram slam gave the Statesmen their first lead of the day. The four run shot was Adcock's second homer of the day, adding to her first in the top of the seventh inning.
 
"Game one was a hard fought game," said UWA head coach Will Atkinson. "It took extra innings, but we just couldn't come up with it in the end. A long ball ended up being the difference in the game. We battled when we could have closed up shop, but we just didn't get the hits we needed."
 
DSU claimed an early lead in game two with eight runs in the top of the second and four in the top of the third. Trailing by 12, UWA cut the lead down with seven runs in the fourth. After two more Delta State runs in the fourth, the Tigers added another six to cut the lead to 14-13.
 
The Tigers tied the game up in the fifth with a solo homerun by Audrey Diekmann. Delta State captured victory with three unanswered runs on three hits and an error in the top of the seventh.
 
"In the second game, we should have won, scoring 14 runs, but we were down 12-0 at one point," said Atkinson. "I'm proud of the team for the effort; they never stopped competing. We just look at it as a tough day and have to come out tomorrow with another game plan."  
 
Adcock finished the day with eight RBI on seven hits and five runs in seven total at bats.
 
Miriah Chavez and Audrey Diekmann led the Tiger offense. Chavez posted four hits in seven trips to the plats with one homerun and three RBI. Diekmann had five hits in nine at bats and finished with four RBI. Jordyn Whiddon also added four RBI with two doubles on four hits.
 
Shayna Beaver (4-0) picked up both wins with five strikeouts through six combined innings. She allowed only three runs on six hits.
 
Giana Cavallaro (1-2) entered in the eighth inning to take the loss for the Tigers in the circle in game one. Alli Hall (2-3) took the loss in game two, giving up three runs and six hits.
 
West Alabama will open Gulf South Conference action against Delta State in a three game series, beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the UWA Softball Complex.