GAME NOTES: Delta State Baseball vs. Arkansas Tech (4.16-17.11)
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CLEVELAND - The Statesmen (24-14, 9-3 GSCW) of Delta State University will square off with the West Division leading Wonder Boys (23-13, 10-2 GSC) of Arkansas Tech University this Saturday (3 pm/DH) and Sunday (2pm) at Ferriss Field.

The series between Delta State and Arkansas Tech marks the 54th time the two schools have met on the diamond.

Over the years, the Statesmen have dominated the series 45-8, but the Wonder Boys claimed the first-ever GSC West Division sweep of DSU at Ferriss Field last season in coach Mike Kinnison's tenure.  The Wonder Boys enter the series holding a one game lead on the Statesmen and No. 16 Harding (31-7, 9-3 GSC) in the West Division standings. DSU will face Harding next weekend in Searcy, Ark.

This weekend Delta State Baseball, the Robert E. Smith School of Nursing and Western Sizzlin' will host “Senior Weekend” with all 10 Statesmen seniors being honored. The first 500 fans through the gates on Saturday and Sunday will have the chance to pick up a limited edition poster highlighting one of 10 seniors. On Sunday, DSU will honor its seniors in a brief ceremony beginning at 1:45 p.m.

All three games will be broadcast on the Statesmen Sports Network. Matt Jones and Jimmy Smith will have the call starting 15 prior to first pitch.

STATESMAN TO WATCH: Patrick Taylor - Catcher
Patrick Taylor, a 5-foot-10 senior catcher, is this week's “Statesman to Watch” after delivering a career-high six RBIs on Sunday and batting .500 in five games last week for the green-and-white.

The Arab, Ala., native went 8 for 16 with five runs scored and six RBIs to lead the Statesmen at the plate versus William Carey, Southern Arkansas and Ouachita Baptist. Against OBU on Sunday, Taylor went 4 for 4 with a three-run home run and a career-high six RBIs. He also leads the Statesmen with a .386 average this season.

ATU AND DSU TO BATTLE FOR DIVISION LEAD
The Delta State University Statesmen (9-3) welcome in the Wonder Boys (10-2) of Arkansas Tech University this weekend at Ferriss Field, as the two clubs battle for the Gulf South Conference West Division lead.

The Wonder Boys (10-2) swept the Buccaneers of Christian Brothers this past weekend and hold a one game lead over the Statesmen and Harding entering this week's competition.

STATESMEN-WONDER BOYS MEETING FOR 54th TIME
This weekend's series between Delta State and Arkansas Tech marks the 54th time the two schools have met on the diamond.

Over the years, the Statesmen have dominated the series 45-8, but the Wonder Boys claimed the first-ever sweep of DSU at Ferriss Field last season in coach Mike Kinnison's tenure.

NIEMANN CRACKS 250th CAREER HIT
Michael Niemann, a senior center fielder from Yelm, Wash., collected his 250th career hit this past Saturday with his 2 for 6 game one performance against Ouachita Baptist. The four-year letter winner ranks ninth in Delta State University baseball history in hits. Brian Rea (1997-2000) holds the school record with 302 hits.

TAYLOR DELIVERS CAREER-HIGH SIX RBIs
Patrick Taylor went 4 for 4 with a career-high six RBIs, including a three-run home run, in DSU's 11-9 must-win victory over Ouachita Baptist University at Ferriss Field.

The Arab, Ala., had three run-scoring hits in the win, including a one RBI single, three-run home run and game-clinching two-RBI single in the eighth inning.

HARDIN PROVES TOUGHNESS; DELIVERS ON THE MOUND
A 125 mph rocket shot off the right knee of Brandon Hardin couldn't keep the hard throwing right-hander down on Sunday. The junior from Pinckneyville, Ill., took the liner in the third inning of DSU's 11-9 win over OBU Sunday.

In spite of the pain, the Kaskaskia (Ill.) transfer stayed in the game, earning the win after throwing 8.0 innings and collecting seven strikeouts.

Hardin (5-2) is tied with Josh Branstetter and Aaron Newcomb for the team lead in wins with five. In 55.0 innings of work, he has struck out 52 batters while walking 23. Opponents are batting just .243 against him this season.

PICKENS EARNS FIRST CAREER SAVE
It looked like an easy win for the Statesmen on Sunday, leading 11-3 going into the ninth inning, but an implosion by the bullpen quickly devolved into an 11-9 lead with the tying runners on base and the go-ahead run on deck. With the game on the line, coach Kinnison brought Garrett Pickens out of the pen to nail down the win.

The 6-foot-3 right-hander from Yazoo City did just that, striking out OBU's Ben Warner to end the game and claim his first career save.

Pickens is 2-0 on the season with a 3.10 ERA in 11 appearances out of the pen. In 20.1 innings pitched, he has 27 strikeouts.

STATESMEN RANK NO.1 ALL-TIME IN WINS IN GSC
Delta State University baseball holds the distinction of owning the most conference titles (11) in Gulf South Conference history. DSU also holds the honor of being the all-time winningest program in league history with 1,725 victories.

Since 1933, the Statesmen are 1,724-862-11. The University of North Alabama and University of West Alabama are the only other schools with over 1,000 all-time wins.

TAYLOR TO THE TOP
After batting .500 (8 for 16) last week, senior catcher Patrick Taylor has taken over the team lead in hitting with a .386 average. The Arab, Ala., native is 34 for 88 at the plate with 17 runs scored, four doubles, two home runs and 18 RBIs.

HERRMANN RIDING SIX GAME HIT STREAK
Despite some recent struggles at the plate, junior shortstop Craig Herrmann is riding a six game hitting streak heading into this weekend's series with Arkansas Tech. He is batting .299 with 24 runs and 16 RBIs.

BOZEMAN TOPS 50 HITS
Senior first baseman Kellen Bozeman topped 50 hits on the season with 52, which ranks fifth in the GSC, after collecting six hits in last weekend's series with Ouachita Baptist University. The Baton Rouge, La., native was 6 for 13 at the plate with five singles and a double.

Bozeman is hitting .361 with 52 hits in 144 at-bats through 38 games. He leads the Statesmen with 17 doubles and ranks second on the club in RBIs with 38.

NIEMANN IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
Michael Niemann enters this weekend's series with ATU ranking in the nation's top five in runs scored and runs per game. In 38 games, Niemann has scored 51 runs, which is second in the GSC, while averaging 1.34 runs per game. He's also 16th nationally in triples with 10.

TRIO OF STATESMEN COLLECTING RBIs IN DROVES
Michael Niemann (39), Kellen Bozeman (38) and Cameron Robulak (35) have collected RBIs in droves this season for the Statesmen. All three are ranked in the top 15 in the GSC in RBIs.

BOZEMAN PACING GSC IN DOUBLES
After slamming 18 doubles as a junior, Kellen Bozeman is on pace to shatter his career mark with 17, which ranks 10th nationally, through 38 games. The Baton Rouge, La., native leads the GSC in two-baggers, while batting .361 with 38 RBIs, which is currently tied for second.

WITH STEALS RECORD IN HAND; NIEMANN CLIMBING INTO TOP 10 IN FIVE CATEGORIES
Senior center fielder Michael Niemann is 20 for 23 in stolen base attempts this season, passing Heath Bailey (71) for the school's career steals record with 77. The senior is also climbing into the top 10 in career hits (250/9th), runs (205/7th), doubles (47/10th), RBIs (162/9th) and triples (10/4th).

Through 38 games, Niemann is batting .341 (46 of 135) with 12 doubles, four triples, five home runs and a team-leading 39 RBIs. He is also leading the Statesmen with 20 stolen bases.

BRANSTETTER SETTLES IN NO. 1 SPOT IN ROTATION
Sophomore right-hander Josh Branstetter has settled nicely into the No. 1 spot in the rotation after working back from a broken foot. The Pensacola, Fla., native is 5-1 this season with a 2.16 ERA in six starts and seven appearances.

In 41.2 innings pitched, Branstetter has allowed 18 runs, 10 earned, with a league-low seven walks and 33 strikeouts. Opposing batters are hitting just .217 against him this season.

STATESMEN RANK SECOND IN NCAA IN HBPs
The Statesmen enter this weekend's series with Arkansas Tech University ranking second in the NCAA with 85 hit-by-pitches. The number is second in the GSC behind national leader Alabama-Huntsville's 92.

DON'T RUN ON ME...
Senior catcher Patrick Taylor has sent a message to all opposing base runners this season, “don't run on me.” The Arab, Ala., native has thrown out 10 base runners this season and added two pickoffs at first to his list of gun-slinging accomplishments.

LEFTIES NO PROBLEM
Some teams really struggle against left-handed pitching, but the Statesmen welcoming the challenge. In 11 decisions this season, the green-and-white are 10-1 against southpaws.

DECIDED BY THE SIXTH
The Statesmen certainly know how to put the opposition away, boasting a 22-2 record when leading after six innings. On the flip side, DSU is 2-12 when trailing after six.

FUNNY MATH..ERRORS = WINS?
The Statesmen have proven the baseball gods wrong so far this season, as Delta State is 18-7 when committing one or more errors in a game. In fact, DSU is 8-5 when committing 2+ errors in a game this season.

HOME SWEET HOME
Dave “Boo” Ferriss Field has been the home for the Statesmen for 46 seasons and the friendly confines have been nearly perfect for DSU this season. Through 19 games at Ferriss Field, the Statesmen are 15-4.

NCAA REGIONAL RANKINGS
The NCAA will officially release the first round of South Region rankings on Monday, April 18. The top eight teams in the final regional poll will advance to the NCAA South Region Tournament May 19-22 at a campus site yet to be determined.

NCBWA RANKS STATESMEN IN SOUTH REGION
While their poll doesn't carry the weight of the NCAA South Region rankings, the National Collegiate Baseball Writer's Association ranked the Statesmen (24-14) No. 8 in this week's South Region Poll.

TEAM W-L PTS PRV
1. West Florida (6) 34-4 60 1
2. Barry, Fla. 27-10 47 2
3. Florida Southern 24-8 42 4
4. North Alabama 26-10 39 3
5. Harding, Ark. 31-7 38 5
6. Tampa, Fla. 27-9 35 6
7. Nova Southeastern, Fla. 23-12 19 T7
8. Delta State, Miss. 24-14 15 T7
9. Alabama-Huntsville 22-13 13 9
10. Arkansas Tech 23-13 11 NR