MAGNOLIA, Ark. – With the Gulf South Conference West Division title and the No. 1 seed at next week's GSC Tournament on the line, the No. 20-ranked Delta State University Statesmen (35-14, 18-3 GSCW) fought back twice in the game, scoring five runs in the eighth, to claim an 11-9 victory and the GSC West crown over the top-ranked Muleriders (44-9, 18-3 GSCW) of Southern Arkansas University Sunday at Mulerider Field. The victory gives the Statesmen their 15th division crown in 16 seasons, and the top seed in next weekend's tournament. 

Delta State scratched the scoreboard first in the top of the second. Cade Hoggard doubled off the centerfield wall to open the inning. Anthony Palasini followed with an RBI-single to center scoring Hoggard for the 1-0 lead. After Josh Gordon grounded into a double play, junior leftfielder Billy Ray Todd connected on his first career home run to left-center for the 2-0 lead. 

The Muleriders took advantage of sloppy defensive play to take a 3-2 lead. After back-to-back hit batsmen by Trey Griffin to Patrick Johnson and Brandon Graves, and a walk to Jeffrey Meadows, senior first baseman Tim Dellwo flew-out to right bringing in Graves. After Gavan McCauley reached on a fielder's choice, shortstop Andrew Whittington hit a tough chopper to second that was ruled an infield single, driving in two runs for the 3-2 lead. Griffin finally got out of the inning, coaxing a groundout by Dane Lucas. 

In the top of the fourth, Kellen Bozeman led off the inning with a triple to center. Hoggard followed with a sac-fly RBI to center, scoring Bozeman to tie it at 3-3. 

Statesmen starter Trey Griffin shut down the Riders in the bottom of the fourth to preserve the tie. 

A two-out rally by the Statesmen in the top of the fifth gave the green-and-white a 4-3 lead. Todd led off the inning with a single to right. After back-to-back fly outs by Oswald and Goodwin, sophomore Michael Niemann lined a single to center, scoring Todd for the lead. 

After flirting with two-out disaster for three innings, the Muleriders finally touched Griffin with an RBI-double by Whittington to tie it at 4-4. Griffin was pulled for Toby Easterly, but the junior couldn't find the strike zone hitting Dane Lucas and throwing a wild pitch to the backstop that allowed Whittington to score from third. 

Junior Jason Coats replaced Easterly, but the Muleriders' catcher Brandon Graves made quick work of a 1-1 curve by Coats, delivering a two-RBI single to left to extend the lead 7-4. With runners on the corners, Coats struck out Johnson, his third of the game, to end the inning. 

The Statesmen fought back in the top of the seventh to cut the lead to one, 7-6. After back-to-back singles by Todd and Oswald, Devin Goodwin laced a double down the left field line to score Todd. 
Niemann followed with an RBI-ground out to second for the second run of the inning. 

SAU came back in the bottom of the seventh to scratch out a run to extend the lead to 8-6. 

In the eighth, the Statesmen rallied for five runs, four coming with two outs, to take an 11-8 lead. The Statesmen connected on six hits in the inning, including a solo home run by Anthony Palasini (3). Goodwin, Niemann, and Sartain all added RBIs as well. 

After going in order in the ninth, the Statesmen need three outs to seal the West Division's No. 1 seed. Levi Bishop returned for his third inning of relief. SAU's Tim Dellwo reached safely on a throwing error by Goodwin to start the inning. Bishop quickly recorded two outs, including a lunging stab by Goodwin to save a run. With two outs, Nick Paschal slapped a single into center to cut it to two, 11-9. Bishop coaxed the final out on a ground out by Lester to third to seal the win. 

Bishop (3-1) picked up the win in relief, working 3.0 innings allowing two runs on two hits. Trey Griffin (5.2), Easterly (0.0), and Coats (0.1) all worked for the pitching staff.
Brendan McDonald (1-2) was saddled with the loss. 

Billy Ray Todd went 4-for-4 with four runs scored, a solo home run, and an RBI to lead the Statesmen. Niemann drove in three runs on two hits, while Goodwin and Palasini had two RBIs each. 

Whittington led SAU at the plate, going 2-for-5 with a run scored and three RBIs. 

The Statesmen will conclude the regular season on Tuesday, April 28 versus Mississippi Valley State University. Game time is set for 2 p.m. at Ferriss Field. The game will be broadcast on the Statesmen Sports Network starting 15 minutes prior to first pitch with the “SouthGroup Insurance Dugout Report.” Matt Jones and Jim Ervin will have the call.