CLEVELAND – Delta State bats had little trouble finding the baseball as the No. 19 Statesmen ousted Mississippi Valley State 11-5 in a non-conference game Tuesday at DSU's Ferriss Field.

Josh Branstetter (2-2) struck out four batters and allowed only two earned runs over 5 1/3 innings to pick up the win for the Statesmen. Branstetter, who came into the start giving up more than seven earned runs per contest, lowered his ERA a full run to 6.05.

The freshman hurler from Pensacola benefitted from a trio of Statesmen knocking two runs apiece. Leadoff hitter Matt Discon went 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored, while freshman designated hitter Michael Vinson went 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs.

Senior third baseman Josh Gordon went 2-for-5 with a pair of RBIs for the Statesmen, who improved to 25-10-1 with the victory over Division I Mississippi Valley State.

Starting pitcher David Brauhn absorbed the loss for the Delta Devils (9-19) after giving up four runs on five hits in only one inning of work. He was relieved with no outs left in the second inning.

Discon led off the bottom of the first inning with a home run and that got the wheels turning for the Statesmen, who jumped out to a 5-0 lead after three innings of play.

The visitors from Itta Bena pulled to within one run with a pair of two-run frames in the fifth and sixth innings, prompting head coach Mike Kinnison to go to his bullpen. Delta State's relief pitching kept Valley at bay, allowing only one run in 3 2/3 innings of work while the Statesmen batters put the game away in the later innings.

Coty Saranthus showed masterful control as he allowed one earned run in 2 2/3 innings after relieving Branstetter in the top of the sixth. Brandon Hall pitched a scoreless ninth inning to preserve the win in his second appearance of the season.

 Hall's performance was particularly encouraging, as he gave up five earned runs in 1 2/3 inning in his 2010 debut.

The win helped the Statesmen avenge a 9-4 setback to the Delta Devils in Itta Bena last month.

The Statesmen return to action Wednesday when they travel to Hattiesburg to face William Carey. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.