GAME NOTES: Statesmen Baseball at GSC Tournament (5.6-11.11)
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CLEVELAND - The Statesmen (29-17, 14-6 GSCW) of Delta State University travel to Millington, Tenn., this week for the Gulf South Conference Tournament. DSU finished third in the GSC West Division and will face the No. 16-ranked University of North Alabama Lions (34-10, 12-4 GSCE), who finished second in the East, on Friday, May 6 at 9:30 a.m. inside USA Stadium in Millington, Tenn., in the GSC Tournament opener for both schools.

Delta State and North Alabama will be meeting for the third time this season. The two GSC foes met for the first time back on March 1 at Ferriss Field with the squads spliting the doubleheader 10-6 and 2-4.

The Statesmen are looking to add to their GSC record 11 league titles and their first since 2008 when play begins on Friday. The green-and-white hold GSC Tournament records for championships (11), wins (61), appearances (28), semifinals (24) and finals (14) appearances. In their 27 previous trips to the GSC Tournament, the Statesmen are 61-37 (.622).

The Statesmen and Lions are on the same side of the bracket as GSC West Division champion Harding University (37-10, 14-6 GSC) and the University of Alabama-Huntsville (27-18, 7-8 GSCE), the East Division's fourth seed. The tandem will square off at 1 p.m. on Friday.

The opposite side of the bracket features the nationally No. 1-ranked Argonauts (42-6, 17-3 GSCE) of the University of West Florida versus the Wonder Boys (29-17, 13-6 GSCW) of Arkansas Tech University (4:15 p.m.) while defending GSC champion Valdosta State (22-25, 10-11 GSCE) face the Muleriders (32-13, 15-6 GSCW) of Southern Arkansas University. First pitch is set for 7:45 p.m.

DSU MAKING 28th GSC TOURNAMENT APPEARANCE
The Statesmen are making their GSC-record 28th appearance in the Gulf South Conference Tournament this week at USA Stadium in Millington,Tenn. DSU's 26 Tournament appearances, are just tip the iceberg. The Statesmen are 61-35 all-time at the tournament and boast GSC Tournament records for wins (61), semifinals appearances (24), finals appearances (14), and championships (11). No other school has more than five titles.

Delta State's GSC Championship Teams
1978 - 43-19 (14-4)
1979 - 32-20 (12-6)
1985 - 38-20 (7-5)
1988 - 44-13 (13-1)
1991 - 33-12 (11-2)
1994 - 45-13 (19-4)
1996 - 53-8 (15-1)
2000 - 48-12 (13-3)
2003 - 52-10 (28-4)
2004 - 54-11 (19-3)
2008 - 48-11 (17-1)

DELTA STATE VERSUS THE FIELD
Delta State will be quite familiar with the competition at this week's GSC Tournament in Millington, Tenn. In fact, the Statesmen have faced all but one of the teams at the event. In those games, DSU is 8-10.

GSC Field 2011 RECORD Overall

TEAM	2011	ALL-TIME
West Florida (E1)	0-3	17-20
North Alabama (E2)	1-1	40-37
Valdosta State (E3)	0-0	9-9
Alabama-Huntsville (E4)	1-1	28-13
Harding (W1)	2-1	31-6
Southern Arkansas (W2)	2-3	56-26
Arkansas Tech (W4)	2-1	47-9

MILLINGTON ON THE MIND
DSU has enjoyed a great deal of success at USA Stadium since the GSC Tournament moved there in 2002. The Statesmen claimed the 2003, 2004 and 2008 Gulf South Conference titles and owns an all-time mark of 20-12 at USA Stadium.

BOZEMAN, BRANSTETTER & NIEMANN NAMED 1ST TEAM ALL-GSC;
TAYLOR & NEWCOMB 2ND TEAM
The Statesmen placed five players on the All-GSC First or Second Team on Wednesday, as seniors Michael Niemann (OF) and Kellen Bozeman (1B) joined sophomore Josh Branstetter (RHP) on the All-GSC First Team. Patrick Taylor (C) and Aaron Newcomb (RHP) grabbed Second Team honors.

Niemann, a senior centerfielder from Yelm, Wash., became the 31st three-time All-GSC player in league history Wednesday. He's the 13th Statesmen to be named All-GSC three times and the first since Eric Patten (SS), who received All-GSC 2003-2005 for DSU.

Bozeman, a 2009 All-GSC First Team designated hitter, returned to the All-GSC squad after missing all of last season. He leads the GSC in doubles (23) and ranks second in RBIs (56).

Branstetter (7-2/2.26 ERA) was one of three unanimous West Division selections on this year's team.

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 1,730 victories.

Since 1933, the Statesmen are 1,730-865-11. The University of North Alabama and University of West Alabama are the only other schools with over 1,000 all-time wins.

BOZEMAN LEADING STATESMEN INTO POSTSEASON
Kellen Bozeman, a senior from Baton Rouge, La., will lead the Statesmen into the GSC Tournament topping the team in batting average (.377), hits (66), doubles (23) and RBIs (56). All four numbers rank in the top 10 in the GSC, while he leads the league in doubles and ranks second in RBIs.

The 2009 All-GSC selection is a nominee for the Tino Martinez Award, presented annually to the nation's top NCAA Division II player. The award will be presented at the NCAA Division II College World Series in Cary, N.C.

BOZEMAN PACING GSC IN DOUBLES; INCHING CLOSER TO DELTA STATE SEASON RECORD
After slamming 18 doubles as a junior, Kellen Bozeman has already passed that number with 23 this season to lead the GSC heading into the GSC Tournament. He ranks third nationally in doubles through 46 games. In just two seasons, Bozeman has collected 41 career two baggers.

The DSU single season record for doubles is 25 currently held by Mike Kinnison (1978), Dee Haynes (1999) and Edwin Maysonet (2003). Bozeman stands two doubles away from the mark.

TRIO OF STATESMEN COLLECTING RBIs IN DROVES
Kellen Bozeman (56), Michael Niemann (46), and Cameron Robulak (43) have collected RBIs in droves this season for the Statesmen. All three are ranked in the top 15 in the GSC in RBIs.

BOZEMAN TOPS 60 HITS/50 RBIs
Senior first baseman Kellen Bozeman has topped the 60 hits/50 RBIs list this season for the Statesmen with 66 hits and 56 RBIs heading into the GSC Tournament. The Baton Rouge, La., native is a nominee for the Tino Martinez National Player of the Year Award and his work at the plate certainly makes you understand why. He is batting .377 with 23 doubles, two triples, four home runs and 56 RBIs to pace the Statesmen.

BRANSTETTER PACING STATESMEN STAFF
Sophomore right-hander Josh Branstetter has mowed down the opposition since taking over as Delta State's No. 1 starter in March after working back from a broken foot. The Pensacola, Fla., native is 7-2 this season with a 2.26 ERA in nine starts and 10 appearances.

The former Pine Forest High product joined Kellen Bozeman on the Tino Martinez Award Watch List, as a nominee for the Division II National Player of the Year.

In 67.2 innings pitched, Branstetter has allowed 27 runs, 17 earned, with a league-low 11 walks and 45 strikeouts. Opposing batters are hitting just .232 against him this season. His 2.26 ERA ranks fifth in the GSC while his 10 walks allowed are the lowest in the league heading into the GSC Tournament.

NEWCOMB LIGHTS OUT IN LAST FOUR STARTS
Junior right-hander Aaron Newcomb has been lights out in his last four starts, allowing just six runs in 29.0 innings pitched. In those four starts, Newcomb is 2-1 with a 1.75 ERA with three walks and 21 strikeouts.

In the four starts, Newcomb has thrown three complete games while opponents are batting .197 against him.

Newcomb is 7-6 with a 4.08 ERA in 13 starts. In a team-high 79.1 innings pitched, the Centralia, Ill., native has given up 40 runs on 82 hits with 17 walks and 69 strikeouts.

BOZEMAN IN THE GSC RANKINGS
Kellen Bozeman has made a strong case for GSC West Division Player of the Year this season. The senior from Baton Rouge, La., ranks ninth in batting (.377), first in doubles (23), fourth in hits (66), second in RBIs (56) and fifth in total bases (105).

His name is also found all over the NCAA rankings as well. Bozeman is third in doubles, fourth in doubles per game, 16th in RBIs, 39th in hits and 41st in total bases. All rankings are based on 500 student-athletes per category.

VINSON RIDING EIGHT GAME HIT STREAK
Sophomore left fielder Michael Vinson brings an eight game hitting streak into this week's GSC Tournament. The 6-foot-2 left-hander is batting .329 with seven doubles, one home run and 29 RBIs. In the last four weeks, Vinson has brought his average up 26 points to .329 on the year.

BALL MAGNETS
Senior centerfielder Michael Niemann and junior third baseman Brent Kakwitch enter the GSC Tournament ranked in the top 10 in the GSC in hit-by-pitches. Kakwitch is fourth with 15 HBPs, while Niemann is tie for seventh with 14 HBPs.

STRIKEOUTS A PLENTY
Juniors Aaron Newcomb and Brandon Hardin both rank in the top 15 in the GSC in strikeouts. Newcomb has recorded 69 strikeouts on 79.1 innings to rank fifth while Hardin has fanned 60, despite not pitching last week, and comes in at No. 11.

WITH STEALS RECORD IN HAND; NIEMANN CLIMBING INTO TOP 10 IN FIVE CATEGORIES
Senior center fielder Michael Niemann is 22 for 27 in stolen base attempts this season, passing Heath Bailey (71) for the school's career steals record with 79. The senior has also climbed into the top 10 in career hits (257/9th), runs (212/5th), doubles (47/10th), RBIs (169/8th) and triples (10/4th).

Through 46 games, Niemann is batting .312 (53 of 170) with 12 doubles, four triples, six home runs and 46 RBIs. He is also leading the Statesmen with 22 stolen bases, which ranks sixth in the GSC.

DSU ELEVATES PLAY IN GSC
The Statesmen have picked up their level of play every weekend in GSC action. DSU is batting .328 in league play, while posting a 4.12 ERA.

In regular season games, the Statesmen are hitting .314 and boast a 4.34 ERA.

STATESMEN RANK SECOND IN NCAA IN HBPs
The Statesmen enter this weekend's series at Harding University ranking second in the NCAA with 100 hit-by-pitches. The number is second in the GSC behind national leader Alabama-Huntsville's 107 through April 24.

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 three 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 12 decisions this season, the green-and-white are 10-2 against southpaws.

DECIDED BY THE SIXTH
The Statesmen certainly know how to put the opposition away, boasting a 26-3 record when leading after six innings. On the flip side, DSU is 2-11 when trailing after six and 1-3 overall when tied after six innings.

DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS
The old adage is right, defense wins championships. The Statesmen have been solid with the glove this season, ranking third in the GSC in fielding percentage. Through 46 games, DSU has a .964 fielding percentage while committing just 57 errors. Only Southern Arkansas (.971) and West Florida (.970) have higher fielding percentages.

SCORING IN DROVES
The Statesmen rank 26th in nation heading into the season finale averaging 7.6 points per game. Cameron University ranks No. 1 with 9.0 runs per game.

EXTRA, EXTRA INNINGS
It's hard to believe, but the Statesmen have played only one extra inning game this season through 46 games. DSU claimed a 2-1 win in game two of the series at Harding.

10'S THE LUCKY NUMBER
The Statesmen have always found a way to get on base and in the March 9 matchup with Mississippi Valley State, DSU collected 10 hit-by-pitches to establish a season high in the GSC.

NCAA SOUTH REGION RANKINGS - TAKE THREE
There was very little change in the latest NCAA South Regional Poll, as released by the NCAA on Wednesday. The Statesmen remained No. 7 for a third straight week and will open up the GSC Tournament on Friday with No. 3 North Alabama. The complete NCAA South Region Poll is listed below.

TEAM OVERALL DII
1 West Florida 42-6 37-6
2 Barry 35-15 32-13
3 North Alabama 34-10 26-10
4 Southern Arkansas 32-13 27-10
5 Nova Southeastern 32-14 26-14
6 Tampa 32-15 24-12
7 Delta State 29-17 25-16
8 Harding 37-10 26-9
9 Florida Southern 27-14 15-13
10 Lynn 24-22 15-16