By: Houston Taylor
CLEVELAND, Miss. – Southern Arkansas tossed a 3-0 shutout at Delta State in their doubleheader opener Sunday, before the Lady Statesmen (14-13, 2-6 GSC) responded with a 6-0 blanking of their own in the nightcap at University Field. The Lady Muleriders (5-12, 2-2 GSC) earned a 2-2 split in the two-day series by virtue of a 3-0 win on Saturday also, with Delta State claiming a 6-2 margin in the second game.
Alex Doyle (Carrollton, Texas) (3-5) repeated her performance from Saturday in the circle, going the distance for her second win in as many days in guiding SAU to the 3-0 win Sunday. Not to be outdone, Lady Statesmen pitcher Brittany Gonzalez then tossed a perfect game in their 6-0 victory.
Southern Arkansas jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning of game one, as leftfielder Julie Essary (Paris, Texas) doubled in both runs. Designated player Denise Amador (Mt. Pleasant, Texas) gave the Lady Muleriders their final run in the seventh with a sac fly. SAU totaled nine hits in the win.
Doyle scattered four hits over her seven frames, walking only one, while striking out three.
Edie Oliver (5-9) took the loss for Delta State, lasting 2 2/3 innings in giving up five hits, two earned runs, and fanning one.
Gonzalez (5-1) was untouchable in Sunday’s nightcap, striking out two en route to her perfect game, and setting down in order the minimum 21. Thirteen of her 21 outs were fly-outs.
The Lady Statesmen used 10 hits and three SAU errors in plating their six runs. It could have been more, as they had bases loaded in the sixth inning, but Southern Arkansas came up with a rare triple play to get out of the inning.
Essary ((2-4) suffered the loss for the Lady Muleriders, going four innings and allowing seven hits and four earned runs, while striking out one.
SAU steps out of Gulf South Conference play Monday when they travel to Arkadelphia to take on Illinois-Springfield in a 4 p.m. doubleheader at Ouachita Baptist.
