JACKSON, Tenn. - The Union University softball team fell to Delta State University 12-5 in eight innings Monday afternoon in game three of the series. The two teams split the first two games with Delta State winning game on 3-1 and Union winning game two 3-2 in eight innings. The Lady Bulldogs are now 12-23 overall and 6-17 in the Gulf South Conference. The Lady Statesmen improve to 23-17 and 14-10 in conference play. 

Delta State started the game by scoring two runs in the first inning. Emily Bennett hit a triple in her first at bat and was able to score Union's first run of the game when Sarah Smith singled to left field. A home run from Delta State in the third put the Lady Statesmen up, 3-1. The Lady Bulldogs took the lead in the third as Samantha McDaniel's double scored in Rosie Red. Gabby Morris followed with a two run single. Delta State scored two runs in the fifth to go up by one run, but Ashten Petty's single scored Kristen Pickens to tie the game at 5-5. The game remained tied until the top of the eighth inning when Delta State exploded with seven runs to take the series. 

Gabby Morris led with three hits and two RBI. Taylor Griffith started for Union but did not record an out, giving up two hits and two earned runs. Taylor Manley tossed 3.1 innings giving up two hits and one earned run with two walks. Gabby Morris (8-8) tossed 4.1 innings giving up six hits and eight runs with eight walks and one strikeout. Ashley Graves finished the game for the Lady Bulldogs pitching one-third of an inning inning giving up one hit and one run with two walks. 

Up next for Union is a double header against LeMoyne-Owen College in Memphis, Tenn. on Tuesday, April 10 starting at 2 p.m.

-UNION-