The Delta State Lady Statesmen rallied for five runs in the top of the ninth inning to defeat the Lee softball team, 8-3 on Friday afternoon to open up the Gulf South Conference weekend series.

Laney Harris hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth to tie things up at 3-3. Neither team would score in the seventh or eight inning but the Lady Statesmen put together five runs on three hits and capitalized on two Lee errors to help seal the victory.

Annalyn Ormsby had three hits to lead the Lady Flames including a two-run homer to right center in the fourth frame to give the Lady Flames a 2-1 advantage. Taylor De Adder doubled in the sixth and scored on the Harris sacrifice fly while Kayla Louie added a pair of singles and drew a walk.

Summer Cryder put together quite a day from the leadoff spot for the Mississippi club as she went a perfect 5 for 5 with a homer and a double. She got the scoring started with an RBI single in the second and then homered down the left field line to tie things up at 2 in the fifth inning. All totaled she drove in three and scored twice.

Lacey Coats (8-2) went the distance in the circle for Delta State. In nine innings she allowed three runs on nine hits and fanned a pair. Madison Barnett stated and tossed six innings for Lee. She allowed three runs, two earned on eight hits. She struck out three and walked only one. Gracie Leslie (0-3) was tagged with the loss as she allowed five runs on four hits but only one run was earned.

The Lady Flames have now dropped six straight after starting the season 5-2 as they fall to 5-8 and 3-4 in league play. Delta State improves to 11-7 and 6-4 in the GSC.

The two clubs will wrap up the three-game series tomorrow with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. from Butler Field.