CLEVELAND- The Delta State University Statesmen baseball team ended a three game losing streak Wednesday with a 7-5 win over No. 7 North Alabama to even the two game series at Ferriss Field.  The win improves the Statesmen to 7-9 on the season, while the Lions fall to 17-5. 

Delta State trailed early in the ball game, down 4-0 heading into the third inning, before the bats exploded. 

The Statesmen opened up the inning with two straight hits before Michael Niemann loaded the bases after being hit by a pitch. Clay Sartain took advantage of the situation with a two-run single to cut the lead to 4-2 before the Statesmen tied it up at 4-4. 

After three scoreless innings, the green-and-white grabbed the lead after the seventh inning stretch, as pinch hitter Matthew Little (1) smashed a home run to left.  Delta State tacked on another run for a 6-4 lead. 

The Lions added another run in the eighth inning, but the Statesmen plated an insurance run in the bottom half to seal the win, 7-5. 

Tobey Easterly (1-2) earned the win, pitching 1.2 innings of relief and giving up a run on two hits. 

Matt Vandenheuval is credited with the loss, giving up three runs on three hits. 

Sartain finished 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBIs and a run scored to lead the Statesmen. 

The Statesmen will be back in action this Friday as they battle Pace University in the first of a three-game series at Ferriss Field. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.