By By Richard Dark/The Meridian Star
May 6, 2001
The Delta State Lady Statesmen's stint in the Gulf South Conference Tournament was short-lived as DSU dropped its final two games of the day to be eliminated on the opening day of the Gulf South Conference Tournament played at Northeast Park.
The Lincoln Memorial Lady Railsplitters defeated DSU 4-3 to send David Kuhn's squad home.
The No.4 seed out of the Eastern Division led 4-2 after three complete and made the lead stick to oust the No. 2 seed out of the West.
LMU survived a small one-run rally by DSU in the bottom of the sixth and overcame three errors.
Megan Lee continued the Lady Statesmen's rally in the bottom of the seventh by leading off with a single. Leslie Pourciau reached on a fielder's choice while Lee was retired at second.
Then catcher Joy Long laced one through the right side putting Lee at third. But with two outs, DSU couldn't tie the game, as outfielder Tiffany Phillips was put out 1-6-3 along with DSU's title hopes.
Nicki Miller went the distance for LMU, allowing only eight hits and striking out four.
Chrissa Hughes took the loss for DSU yielding six of the Railsplitter's 11 hits.
Alabama Huntsville 11, DSU 0: In DSU's second game of the day, one bad inning changed the entire tone of the tournament for DSU.
With UAH leading 2-0 in the top of the third, the Lady Statesmen were retired in order by Chargers' starting pitcher Lane Davis.
Then in the pivotal third inning, the Lady Chargers exploded four runs to take a 6-0 lead.
DSU starter Duana Maseyton was hammered for five runs in two innings of work.
DSU 6, Valdosta State 3: The Lady Statesmen got the day started off on a positive note with a four-run third inning that they made stick.
Hurler Nicki Genre went all the way for the Lady Statesmen, scattering nine hits and striking out one.
Lee and Pourciau swung the big bats for DSU, with 3-for-4 efforts each.
Lincoln Memorial 3, Southern Arkansas 1: The Lady Railspliiters scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth to erase a 1-0 deficit.
Vanessa Patterson gave up six hits in seven innings to claim victory for LMU.
Designated hitter Mindy Miller fueled LMU with a 2-for-3 production at the plate that aided in the Lady Mulerider's elimination.
West Florida 2, Southern Arkansas 1: The Lady Muleriders hurt their chances earlier in the day by letting the slim 1-0 lead evaporate in the bottom of the fourth. Krissy Styrna's three-hitter provided the impetus for the victory with a 2-for-3 effort on the mound and allowing only three SAU hits on the mound. Each team left seven runners on base. Jesica Orso provided the two-RBI double in the fourth for the Lady Argonauts.
Arkansas Monticello 2, West Florida 1: The Lady Argonauts put them selves on the brink of elimination with a narrow loss to the Cotton Blossoms earlier in the day.
UAM got four hits in the bottom of the fifth frame that helped them manufacture the tying and go-ahead scores.
Stephanie Hollis and Julie Bowen both slapped RBI singles to right and centerfield, respectively, providing the runs.
Lindsey Kight threw the complete game winner, allowing a run a walk and three strikeouts. Heidi Martin went 3-for-3 for the Cotton Blossoms. Hollis had a 2-for-2 output.
Arkansas-Monticello 1, Lincoln Memorial 0: In a noon game, the Cotton Blossoms scratched out a run in the bottom of the first when Julie Bowen singled sharply up the middle to plate teammate Heidi Martin.
It turned out to be all the runs the Cotton Blossoms would need as pitcher Kendra Hayes handcuffed LMU with seven strikeouts. and only gave up six hits in seven innings of work.
Valdosta 4, Central Arkansas 1: The Lady Blazers, facing elimination took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first and built on it throughout the course of the game.
VSU's Angela Lauzon scattered eight hits and only allowed a run, a walk and struck out two.
Second baseman tiffany Moon was the multiple hitter for VSU, going 2-for-3. Losing pitcher Joanna Velasquez also had a 2-for-3 effort as her Lady Bears were eliminated.
Alabama Huntsville 9, Central Arkansas 1: Earlier in the day, UCA was placed behind the eight ball by a Lady Chargers offensive onslaught.
UAH led 4-1 before exploding to the tune of five more runs over the final three frames. Amber Fuller was the top hitter for UAH, going 3-for-4. Kim Crain's solo homer in the fourth represented the Lady Bears only score.
UAH 10, UA-Monticello 2: The powerful Lady Chargers sent the Cotton Blossoms to today's loser's bracket games that will be played at 10 a.m. with a blasting in the nightcap.
For UAH, it was Melanie Carter and Kristi Braverman putting forth 3-for-4 marks at the plate. Carter also homered to lead the 14-hit ambush.
DH Renea Harrison also had a 3-for-3 night for Huntsville who completed the first day without a loss.
They now have the inside track to today's championship game that will be played at noon.
Valdosta 3, West Florida 2: In what many considered an upset, the Lady Blazers ended UWF's stint in the tourney with a dramatic win to cap off the night.
Lindsey Killingsworth held UWF to four hits.
Richard Dark is a sports writer for The Meridian Star. You can call him at 693-1551, ext. 3235 or e-mail him at rdark@themeridianstar.com.