ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The Delta State University baseball team scored 11 runs over the final three innings, including eight runs in the top of the eighth inning, to put away Henderson State 16-7 and claim the series 2-1 on Sunday at Reddie Field. The Statesmen improved to 24-12 on the season and 10-2 in Gulf South Conference play, while the Reddies slide to 26-12 and 4-8 in league action.

The Statesmen jumped out quickly to a 4-0 lead after the top of the first on a pair of two-run home runs by Clay Sartain (4) and Patrick Strack (6).

The Reddies came right back in the bottom half, as Jeremy Sauceda drove in Grant Dennis, who doubled with one out, with an RBI single to center.

In the third, Kellen Bozeman doubled to start the inning and came around to score on Anthony Palasini's RBI to extend DSU's lead to 5-1.

In the bottom half of the third, the Reddies would score three runs on three hits off of Statesmen starter Cody Kelley, led by John Waylock's (2) two-run home run to right-center. Trey Griffin would come out of the bullpen to end the Reddie-rally with a strikeout of Jonathon Dooley.

Henderson State would tie it up in the bottom of the fifth at 5-5, as Kendall Norman, who doubled to lead off the inning, came in to score on an error by shortstop Devin Goodwin on an attempted double steal by the Reddies. DSU reliever Trey Griffin would retire the side on a deep fly out by Brad Cobb to right.

The Statesmen would rally again in the top of the sixth with a run on three hits. Goodwin reached safely on a one out infield single. Michael Niemann followed with a single to center. A pass ball by HSU catcher Kendall Norman allowed the runners to move up. Clay Sartain would follow with an RBI-infield single to third to plate Goodwin.

Anthony Palasini's (2) two-run blast over the right-center field wall extended Delta State's lead to 8-5 in the top half of the seventh inning.

DSU would plate eight runs in the top of eighth on four hits to take a 16-5 lead, including a two-RBI single by Josh Gordon. Chase Blanchard, Goodwin and Palasini all drove in one run in the inning.

HSU added two runs in the bottom of the eighth on Jonathon Dooley's two-run home run (4) off reliever Marcus Wilson, cutting the DSU lead to 16-7.

After going quietly in the top of the ninth, DSU's Brent Hallmark shut down the Reddies for the 16-7 win.

The Statesmen finished the game with 16 runs on 19 hits with three errors, while the Reddies scored seven runs on 13 hits with three errors.

Griffin, a junior from Houston, pitched 4.1 innings allowing one run on three hits with three strikeouts. Marcus Wilson (1.0), and Brent Hallmark (1.0) also worked in relief. Kelley pitched 2.2 innings allowing four runs on eight hits in the start for the green-and-white, but did not factor in the decision.

Chase Cleveland (4-3) took the loss for the Reddies allowing eight earned runs on 14 hits.

Palasini went 3-for-5 with a two-run home run and four RBIs. Sartain went 3-for-6 with three RBIs, while Niemann went 3-for-4 with two runs scored.

The Statesmen will return to action Tuesday, April 7 at Mississippi Valley State in Itta Bena. Game time is set for 4 p.m. at Delta Devils Field. The game will be broadcast on the Statesmen Sports Network starting at 3:45 p.m. with the “SouthGroup Insurance Dugout Report.” Matt Jones and Dan Hawthorne will have the call.