BOCA RATON, Fla. – There is definitely no quit in the 2010 edition of the Delta State University baseball team. After jumping out to a 4-0 lead over the No. 10 Knights of Lynn University and seeing that lead evaporate into a 6-4 deficit, the No. 23 Statesmen came roaring back in the top of the seventh to tie the game at 6-6. Scoreless baseball over the final two innings sent the game into extras. Tied at 6-6 after 10 innings, the game was called due to darkness.

For the Statesmen, it's the first time since 1993 that a game ended in a tie, a 10-10 decision versus Northeast Louisiana State on Feb 23 at Ferriss Field and the first for coach Mike Kinnison (590-167-1). With the tie, DSU moves to 0-1-1, while LU slides to 1-0-1.

The Statesmen wasted little time finding a spark, jumping out to a 1-0 lead in the first. Matt Discon singled with one out followed by Michael Niemann's double down the right field line bringing Cade Hoggard to the plate. Lynn starter Tommy Kahnle jumped blew a two-strike fastball past Hoggard to record the strikeout, but Knights catcher Kyle Holloway let the ball tick off his glove allowing Discon to score from third.

Delta State erupted for three runs in the second off Kahnle to take a 4-0 lead. Statesmen third baseman Josh Gordon jumped started the inning with a one out double high off the center field wall. Shortstop Chris Escobar delivered with an RBI-single to right, scoring Gordon. Second baseman Chase Blanchard blasted a Kahnle fastball down the left field line and into the corner for a triple, plating Escobar. Blanchard would make it 4-0 green-and-white, as the speedster scored on Billy Ray Todd's RBI-ground out to short.

One swing of the bat with the bases loaded in the bottom of the third got the Knights right back into the game, as Lynn first baseman Chris Chavez blasted Cody Kelley's offering over the left field fence to tie the game at 4-4.

The Statesmen let scoring opportunities slip through their fingers in the fifth and sixth innings, including loading the bases in the sixth, as Lynn reliever Daniel Rouah worked out of jams in both innings.

Two errors, one by Escobar and one by Hoggard, in the bottom of the sixth proved costly for the green-and-white, as the Knights took a 6-4 lead and chased Statesmen starter Kelley from the game. Toby Easterly, who got out of the inning after giving up the runs, came on in relief.

With the bases loaded in the top of the seventh and one out, DSU catcher Patrick Taylor lifted a fly ball to right, scoring Matt Discon from third and making it a 6-5 Lynn lead. However, the Statesmen weren't through in the inning. With Niemann on third and Hoggard at first, Delta State's double-steal attempt worked, LU's Chavez threw the ball into center on a failed pickoff allowing Niemann to tie the game at 6-6.

Both teams had chances over the final two innings, but neither could capitalize, sending the game into extras.

In the tenth with the bases loaded yet again, the Statesmen could not get the clutch hit they needed. With Patrick Taylor at third, Josh Gordon at second, and Chris Escobar at first, Lynn reliever Same Jones struck out Billy Ray Todd on a check swing allowing Holloway to cut down Escobar at first to end the inning.

Easterly, a senior right-hander from Amite, La., shut the door on the Knights in the bottom of the tenth, recording three straight outs to send it to the 11th.

With darkness encroaching McCusker Athletic Complex, DSU head coach Mike Kinnison and Lynn head coach Rudy Garbalosa both agreed it was too dark to continue play. With the score tied at 6-6, the game was called. DSU scored six runs on 10 hits with three errors, while LU tallied six runs on nine hits with three errors.

For the Statesmen, Cody Kelley worked a solid 5.1 innings, allowing six runs, four earned, on seven hits with a walk and five strikeouts. Easterly pitched very well out of the bullpen, throwing 4.2 innings of shutout baseball, allowing just two hits and recording four strikeouts.

Josh Gordon led the Statesmen at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a run scored. Matt Discon was 2-for-4 with two runs scored, while Niemann went 2-for-5 with an RBI.

The Knights were led by Chris Chavez, who went 1-for-4 with a grand slam.

LU starter Tommy Kahnle lasted 5.0 innings, allowing four runs, three earned, on six hits with a walk and five strikeouts. Daniel Rouah (4.0) and Same James (1.0) also worked in relief.

The Statesmen continue their tour of the Florida peninsula, as Delta State takes on Nova Southeastern Saturday in the Nike/OTS Challenge in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Game time is set for noon.