JACKSON – The No. 20-ranked Statesmen (33-13) of Delta State University jumped out to a 4-0 lead over Belhaven (34-17) on Tuesday night at Smith-Wills Stadium and cruised to a 7-3 victory, extending their win streak to nine games in the process. 

Kellen Bozeman's two-out RBI-double to right center scoring Clay Sartain gave the Statesmen a 1-0 advantage early. Cade Hoggard (12) on the next pitch deposited the Joe Patterson offering 395-feet over the left field wall for the 3-0 lead after the first. 

Anthony Palisini's RBI-single to right made it 4-0 Delta State in the top of the third. 

Belhaven scratched a run out in the bottom of the third, as DSU starter Jason Coats hit Brent Hudson with the bases loaded. 

DSU added three runs on four hits in the sixth to lead 7-1. Josh Gordon connected on his fourth home run of the year, and Devin Goodwin adding an RBI-double. Michael Niemann also contributed with an RBI-single to center. 

Belhaven rallied for two runs in the bottom of the sixth after a single by Charlie Edwards and double by Brian McCormick, cutting the lead to 7-3. Both runs came around to score on an attempted double play that got away from Statesmen first baseman Steven Oswald on an errant throw by Clay Sartain. 

Belhaven threatened in the seventh and eighth, but Statesmen relievers Cody Kelley and Cesar Rodriguez kept them at-bay. 

In the bottom of the ninth, Rodriguez, a senior from Miami, Fla., closed the door for the 7-3 win. 

Kelley (5-2) earned the win in relief of starter Coats working 4.0 innings, allowing two runs on three hits. 

Joe Patterson (5-2) took the loss for the Blazers. 

The Statesmen will travel to Magnolia, Ark., this weekend to battle top-ranked Southern Arkansas University for the Gulf South West Division title and the top seed in the upcoming GSC Tournament. The Statesmen are one game behind the Muleriders for first place. The series will be broadcast on the Statesmen Sports Network starting 15 minutes prior to first pitch. Matt Jones and Jim Ervin will have the call.