Delta State at Harding Series Notebook [PDF]

CLEVELAND - The No. 18/No.21 ranked Statesmen (18-9-1, 3-2 GSCW) of Delta State University will be making the short ride to Searcy, Ark., this weekend for a key Gulf South Conference series with the Bisons (14-15, 2-3 GSCW) of Harding University.

The three game series begins Saturday with a doubleheader at noon and a single game on Sunday at 1 p.m. All three games will be played at Jerry Moore Field.

Delta State enter's the weekend with the second-best ERA in the GSC at 3.41. Harding will counter with a 6.78 ERA, which ranks 13th out of 14 schools in the league.

The Statesmen lead the all-time series 27-4. DSU took 2-of-3 from the Bisons last season at Ferriss Field. Delta State's last trip to Jerry Moore Field resulted in a rain-shortened weekend, but a 6-1 win for DSU in the only game played in 2008.

The Statesmen split a pair of midweek games this week, downing William Carey 4-3 on Wednesday and falling 9-4 at Mississippi Valley State on Tuesday.

In the 4-3 win over WCU, senior 1B Cade Hoggard delivered a two-out, two-RBIs single to left to lift DSU to the win. Redshirt sophomore catcher Rickey Ware connected on his first career home run, a blast to straight-away center, in the win.

STATESMAN TO WATCH - JOSH GORDON (3B)
This week's Statesman to watch is senior third baseman Josh Gordon. The hard-hitting Vicksburg native leads the Statesmen with a .452 average and 47 hits. He is tied for the team lead with three home runs and ranks third in doubles (6) and RBIs (21). In Gulf South Conference action, Gordon is hitting .400 with eight hits and seven runs scored.

STATESMEN SPORTS NETWORK
The Statesmen Sports Network will offer complete coverage of all three games this weekend from Jerry Moore Field online at www.GoStatesmen.com and on the network beginning 15 minutes prior to first pitch with the SouthGroup Insurance Dugout Report. Matt Jones and Jim Ervin will have the call. This week's action may be heard on WMJW 107.5 FM and SuperSport 930 AM in Jackson.