CLEVELAND – Senior righthander Cody Kelley pitched a complete game and the No. 10 Statesmen (13-5-1) rolled up seven runs on 14 hits to claim a 7-3 win over the West Florida Argonauts (12-10) and salvage the third and final game of the weekend series.

The No. 10 Statesmen raced out to a 2-0 lead on the Argonauts of West Florida in the bottom of the first of UWF starter Daniel Vargas-Vila. The Statesmen used a leadoff double by Billy Ray Todd and RBI singles from Michael Niemann and Josh Gordon to plate the runs.

After three-scoreless innings, DSU tacked on a run in the fifth on Cade Hoggard's RBI single to right-center scoring Will McGinnis.

Statesmen starter Cody Kelley had kept the Argonaut bats quiet for five innings, but in the sixth West Florida struck for two runs on RBI singles by Jack Materne and Zach Taylor.

In the seventh, DSU's Chris Escobar connected on a grand slam off Vargas-Vilas, giving the Statesmen a 7-2 lead. It was Escobar's second home run of the year and his first career grand slam.

West Florida added a run in the top of the ninth, but Kelley fended off the Argos surge to preserve the 7-3 win.

Kelley (3-0) went the distance, allowing three runs, two earned, on five hits with zero walks and four strikeouts. It was the third straight win for the senior from Louisville.

Vargas-Vila (2-2) took the loss, working 5.1 innings while giving up seven earned runs on 10 hits. Shane Waller worked 2.2 innings and gave up four hits, but no runs.

Five Statesmen recorded multi-hit days, led by Gordon and Chase Blanchard with three apiece. Niemann, Todd and McGinnis had two each, while Escobar's grand-slam was the big hit of the day.

Delta State opens Gulf South Conference action on March 13-14 at Ferriss Field, as the Statesmen host Ouachita Baptist University. Saturday's doubleheader is slated for 1 p.m., while Sunday's single game is set for 2 p.m.