Box Score CLEVELAND - The Statesmen of Delta State University (8-8) scored 10 unanswered runs on Wednesday to claim a 16-7 victory over the Delta Devils of Mississippi Valley State (1-11) at Ferriss Field.

The Delta Devils jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first on Jerry Hildreth's RBI-ground out. Curtis Ford led off the game with a hit-by-pitch and eventually moved into scoring position thanks to a sac-bunt by Michael Lowe and a pass ball by DSU catcher Patrick Taylor.

Delta State tied the game at 1-1 in the second, as Craig Hermann delivered an RBI-single to centerfield plating Michael Vinson from second.

MVSU plated three runs in the third to take a 4-1 lead on an RBI triple by Hildreth, RBI double from Chris Norman and an Rbi single from Derek Wallace.

The Delta Devils tacked on two additional runs in the fourth, thanks to two Statesmen errors, to take a commanding 6-1 lead.

Delta State cut it to a one run deficit, 6-5, by plating four runs on four hits in the fourth. After loading the bases, Michael Niemann delivered an RBI single down the right field line. An error on Will McGinnis' grounder to second allowed Chris Escobar to score from third. Kellen Bozeman followed with an RBI line out to left. DSU closed the scoring in the fourth on an RBI single by Cameron Robulak.

After holding MVSU scoreless in the top of the fifth, the Statesmen tied it up in the bottom of the inning on McGinnis' RBI-single to right, his second run batted in of the game.

MVSU answered right back on Hildreth's second RBI single to center, giving the Devils a 7-6 lead in the sixth.

The Statesmen continued to put runs on the board in their half of the sixth, scoring eight runs. Brent Kakwitch delivered a sac-fly RBI to get it started. A throwing error by the right fielder allowed another run to score on Kakwitch's out. Niemann smashed a two-RBI double to left center to plate the third and fourth runs. McGinnis followed suit with a double to right, scoring Hermann and Niemann.

DSU made it four straight innings with a run, as Hermnann lined out to left to drive in Kakwitch and make it 15-7 Delta State.

After Jon Carnahan doubled to start the bottom of the eighth, Kakwitch followed with a triple off the wall to score the runner from second.

Josh Branstetter (1-1) claimed the win in relief of DSU starter Jordan Moore. The sophomore allowed three runs, one earned, in three innings of work. Moore worked three innings as well, surrendering four runs with three walks and a strikeout. Garrett Pickens (2.0) and Brent Hallmark (1.0) worked the final three innings of relief.

Kameron Stady (0-2) took the loss for Valley, who used five different pitchers in the game.

McGinnis finished the night 2 for 4 with four RBIs, while Niemann finished with three RBIs and two hits. Robulak, Kakwitch and Hermann all drove in two for DSU.


The Statesmen return to the diamond this weekend for a three-game non-conference crossover with Arkansas-Monticello, Ouachita Baptist and Southern Arkansas in Magnolia, Ark. DSU faces UAM on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. followed by a 6 p.m. first pitch with SAU. The event wraps up Sunday at 2:30 p.m. with the Statesmen facing OBU.