LIVINGSTON, Ala. - The No. 13 Statesmen (10-2-1) of Delta State University claimed a convincing 15-4 and 9-3 sweep of No. 17 West Alabama (8-5) on Saturday, giving DSU head coach
Mike Kinnison 600 career victories. The Statesmen's skipper has posted a 600-168-1 record in his 14 seasons at DSU. He needs 38 wins to become DSU's all-time leader.
In game two, the Statesmen continued their hot hitting, jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the first.
Matt Discon and
Michael Niemann came around to score for the Statesmen.
UWA tied it up at 2-2 with single runs in the second and third innings.
DSU plated two additional runs in the fourth to take a 4-3 lead.
The Tigers cut it one run in the bottom of the fourth, 4-3, as Kevin Deese came around to score.
Leading 4-3 heading into the top o the 7th, the Statesmen exploded for five runs, aided by
Josh Gordon's three-RBI triple,
Patrick Taylor's RBI double and an RBI single by
Billy Ray Todd, to take a commanding 9-3 lead.
Coty Sarathus (2) made it stand up, as the reliever shutdown the Tigers in the bottom of the ninth to preserve the win for DSU starter
Jason Coats (2-0). Saranthus worked 2.1 scoreless innings of relief, after Coats scattered three runs on five hits in 4.2 innings.
Chase Blanchard and Niemann finished with two hits apiece to lead DSU.
In game one, the No. 13 Statesmen recorded 15 runs on 16 hits en route to a 15-4 win Saturday in game one of doubleheader over the No. 17 Tigers.
Trey Griffin (2-1) worked 7.0 innings, allowing four runs on six hits with four walks and six strikeouts to earn the win for DSU. UWA's Kyle Nafzger (1-2) took the loss after tossing 2.1 innings and allowed six earned runs.
Chris Escobar went 2-for-4 with three RBIs to pace the Statesmen, while
Cade Hoggard smashed his second home run of the season, finishing with two RBIs and two hits.
Josh Gordon went 3-for-5 with three runs scored as well.
Kevin Deese went 1-for-3 with a home run to lead the Tigers.
The third and final game of the series is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Tartt Field.
