ROME -- The Hawks last inning rally came up short as they fell to No. 20 Delta State 9-6 Sunday afternoon.

After the Lady Statesmen scored in the first inning on an RBI single from Morgan Kazerooni, Shorter answered with two runs on four hits – all with two outs – in the bottom of the frame to take the lead 2-1. Niki Cook and Kendall Johnson each grounded out, but the Hawks' bats came alive as the next four batters reached on singles to extend the inning. Shorter's first run of the day came as Kameron Carter scored on a single up the middle from Taylor Ann Oda, and the Hawks took the lead two batters later when Carson Carriker reached on an error by the pitcher, plating Ericka Bynum.

Delta State (33-12, 21-6 GSC), however, regained the lead in the third – this time for good, despite a last at bat rally from the Hawks. In the third, the Lady Statesmen added two runs to take a 3-2 lead, before adding three more in the fourth to make it 6-2. Delta State struck for a run in the sixth and two more in the seventh for a 9-2 advantage going into the final half inning.

But the Hawks (24-17, 15-12 GSC) wouldn't go down without a fight, tacking on four runs, and having the winning run on deck when the last out was recorded. Johnson reached after being hit by a pitch to lead things off, then Carter brought them both in as she delivered her 10^th homerun of the season to straightaway centerfield for the 9-4 score. Bynum followed with her third hit of the day, and was replaced by Taylor Martin as a pinch runner. Martin then came in on a double down the right field line by Dani Lukas; who scored on a single from Tiffany Holland to make it 9-6, before Cook grounded out to end the threat and the game – stranding runners at first and second.

Kalei Kimbrell took the loss for Shorter, allowing three runs on six hits through 2.1 innings of work with a walk and three strikeouts. Payton Lippert pitched the final 4.2 innings; allowing six runs – five earned – on twelve hits with a strikeout and two walks.

Bynum and Lukas each finished with three hits on the day; while Cook and Carter both added two apiece.

Shorter will close out the regular season on the road as they travel to West Alabama next weekend, April 16-17, and then to West Florida for the season's final series, April 23-24.