CLEVELAND - Cade Hoggard drove in two runs and Josh Gordon and Michael Vinson homered for the No. 18 Statesmen (24-10-1, 8-3 GSC) of Delta State University, who held on for a 9-5 win over the Henderson State Reddies (18-14, 3-8 GSC) Saturday at Ferriss Field. The win completes the three game sweep for the Statesmen and moved the green-and-white into a second place tie with Arkansas Tech.

HSU jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first on Kendall Norman's RBI single to left.

DSU struck back in the bottom of the first for two runs and never trailed again. Hoggard delivered a one-out RBI single to left and Rickey Ware drew a bases loaded walk to give the Statesmen the lead.

The Statesmen tacked on four runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 6-1 lead. Will McGinnis walked in a run with a bases loaded walk and Chase Blanchard drove in a run with a single to center. DSU added two more runs on a throwing error by HSU first baseman Robert Gilbert.

Both teams plated a run in the sixth to make it 7-2.

In the eighth, Lee Harris connected on a three-run home run to left to cut into the DSU lead, 7-5.

In the Delta half of the eighth, Josh Gordon connected on a solo home run to right with one out and Michael Vinson connected on his first career home run, a towering shot over the right field wall to extend the lead to 9-5.

The Reddies went quietly in the ninth for the 9-5 win.

Trey Griffin (4-2) worked 7.2 innings to claim his third straight league win. The senior from Houston allowed five runs on 10 hits with five walks and six strikeouts. Brent Hallmark (4) worked 1.1 innings of shutout baseball to earn his fourth save.

HSU's Chase Cleveland (1-3) took the loss after allowing six runs on six hits with six walks and four strikeouts. Alex Aguilar (1.1) and Evan Eary (2.0) worked in relief.

Gordon and Blanchard went 3-for-5 with one RBI apiece to pace the Statesmen, while Hoggard went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and Vinson went 2-for-4.

Ryan Ellis led all hitters and HSU with a 4-for-4 day at the plate.

The Statesmen return to action Tuesday, April 6 versus Mississippi Valley State. Game time is set for 6:30 p.m. at Ferriss Field.