CLEVELAND -- For the second time in three games, the Delta State University baseball team throttled the No.1 Southern Arkansas Muleriders with the Gulf South Conference 10-run mercy rule.

DSU claimed the series with a 21-8 win in the series finale Sunday at Ferriss Field. The No. 20 Statesmen (34-14-1, 13-7) pounded out 43 runs in the three game set against the highly touted SAU pitching staff.

On the day the team recognized its seniors and 50 years of service by former coach  Dave “Boo” Ferriss, the Statesmen pounded 18 hits in the win.

For the third straight game, Southern Arkansas (39-6, 18-2) struck quickly. Chris Harrison's two-out double down the right field line scored Jake Astor and Nick Paschal, and gave the Muleriders the quick 2-0 lead.

With an instant replay of Saturday's games, the Statesmen punched back hard with a four-run bottom of the first to take a 4-2 lead. The inning was highlighted by Josh Gordon's towering home run to left center field.

That score remained the same until the Statesmen exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the third inning. DSU batted around in the process. Will McGinnis continued to swing a hot bat in the series with a three-run home run in the inning.

If the seven-run third was not enough, the Statesmen bashed their way to seven more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to make the score 18-5. That inning was powered by another three run home run by the Statesmen, this time by senior Cade Hoggard. SAU answered with a lone run in the top of the sixth inning.

The Statesmen continued the hit parade in the bottom of the sixth, plating three more runs.

Southern Arkansas did not go quietly. The Muleriders scored two runs with two outs in the top of the seventh, but Jeffrey Vance secured one final out to preserve the win for the Statesmen.

It was fitting that Cody Kelley (7-1) picked up the win for the Statesmen. Kelley is the only fourth year senior who celebrated senior day. Kelley worked six innings, and allowed six runs on 11 hits with seven strikeouts and three walks.

Cody Saranthus pitched 0.2 innings in relief and allowed two runs on four hits.

Dan Bream (8-2) took the loss. Bream allowed seven runs on seven hits. Bryce Biggerstaff allowed nine runs, seven earned in relief. Bryan Dixon and Cody Springer were also used in relief for SAU and allowed two and three runs respectively.

McGinnis and Cade Hoggard both had five RBI's for the Statesmen. Matt Discon, Gordon, Michael Vinson, Hoggard, McGinnis and Chase Blanchard all had mulitple hits for DSU.

Andrew Whittington led the way at the plate for SAU. The leadoff hitter was 2-for-4 with four RBI's.

The Statesmen will return to action on Saturday May 1 and will take on the No.2 seed from the GSC East Division, which will either be West Florida or Valdosta State.

Stay tuned to GoStatesmen.com for updates.