Box Score CLEVELAND – Patrick Taylor's career-high six RBIs pushed the Delta State University Statesmen (24-14, 9-3 GSC) past the Ouachita Baptist University Tigers (16-21, 5-7 GSC) 11-3 to salvage the series finale Sunday at Ferriss Field. While the Tigers took the series 2-1, Sunday's win kept the Statesmen from being swept at home for what would have been the second time under head coach Mike Kinnison.

The victory kept the Statesmen in a tie for second place in the Gulf South Conference West Division with Harding University at 9-3. Arkansas Tech holds a one game edge at 10-2 heading into next weekend's series.

Kyle Zimmerman picked the Tigers up in the third inning, drilling a three-run home run just over the left field fence with two outs off Brandon Hardin. The Statesmen starter had just been hit by a line drive in the knee off Brett Mazmanian's bat.

OBU starter Taylor Burns looked like he would cruise through the Statesmen order until the fourth. The junior right-hander finally looked human, surrendering an RBI single to Patrick Taylor and a two-RBI rope to left for Craig Herrmann.

DSU took the lead in the fifth off Taylor on a wild pitch that allowed Vinson to score from third. Vinson and Kakwitch were hit on back-to-back pitches from the Tiger hurler and Taylor loaded up the bases on an error at third by Landon Flax.

After OBU made the switch to Peppenhorst, DSU got to the lefty in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases on back-to-back hits by Bozeman and Vinson and a walk to Kakwitch. With no one out, Cameron Robulak lifted a sac-fly to left, scoring Bozeman from third. Taylor followed with a titanic home run to left center, putting DSU up 8-3.

DSU tacked on three runs in the eighth to put the game out of reach 11-3. Taylor collected two more RBIs on an RBI single to left. Anthony Even got into act, drilling an RBI single past the third baseman. All three runs came off Tigers reliever Travis King, who came in for Nick Holtgrieve.

DSU's Brent Hallmark came on to relieve Hardin in the ninth. The junior from New Hope walked Ben Warner to open the inning. McCrae Jones followed with a single to left center. Justin Hall delivered an RBI single to left to cut the lead to 11-4. Mazmanian made it 11-5 with an infield single to third. A bases loaded hit-by-pitch to Zimmerman made it 11-6 and forced coach Kinnison to bring in Tim Maloney out of the pen.

Maloney promptly gave up a three-run double to left center to Green, cutting the Statesmen lead to 11-9. Maloney did retire Ward before giving way to Garrett Pickens, the third pitcher used in the inning by the Statesmen. The junior from Yazoo City struck out Ben Warner to end the game and record his first career save.

Hardin (5-2) earned the win for the Statesmen after tossing 8.0 innings and allowing three runs on six hits with a walk and seven strikeouts. Hallmark allowed six earned runs on four hits in relief.

Burns (2-3) took the loss after giving up four runs on six hits in 5.0 innings of work. OBU used Peppenhorst (1.0), Holtgrieve (1.0) and King (1.0) in relief.

Taylor led all batters at the plate, going 4 for 4 with two runs scored and a career-high six RBIs. The senior from Arab, Ala., connected on three hits leading directly to runs, including his second home run of the year.

Bozeman was 3 for 5 with two runs scored and Vinson finished the contest 2 for 2 with three runs. Hermann collected one hit on the day, but the junior made it count with a pair of RBIs.

OBU's Zimmerman and Green finished with three RBIs each.

The West Division-leading Wonder Boys of Arkansas Tech University are up next for the Statesmen. The three game series gets underway on Saturday, April 16 at Ferriss Field with a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m. The series concludes with a single game on Sunday at 2 p.m., where coach Kinnison and DSU Baseball will recognize the 10 seniors on this season's club.

All three games will be broadcast on the Statesmen Sports Network starting 15 minutes prior to first pitch with the “Shelter Insurance Statesman Dugout Report.” Matt Jones and Jimmy Smith will have the call.