Box Score MILLINGTON, Tenn. – In a game that saw three lead changes, it was the No. 16-ranked Lions of North Alabama (35-10) making the plays down the stretch, scoring five unanswered runs in the seventh and eighth innings, to claw out a 10-5 victory over the Statesmen of Delta State (29-18) in the Gulf South Conference Baseball Tournament opener Friday at USA Stadium.

Tied at 5-5 heading into the bottom of the seventh, UNA's Josh Cyr delivered a 450-foot shot over the scoreboard in left-center off DSU starter Aaron Newcomb to put the Lions up 6-5. The shot chased Newcomb and forced the Statesmen to go to the bullpen.

After failing to the muster any offense in the top of the eighth, the Lions put the Statesmen away in the bottom of the inning with four runs on two hits, including a bases clearing, three-RBI double by Jake Sloan. Cyr recorded his second RBI of the game earlier in the inning on a hit-by-pitch off Statesman reliever Brandon Hardin.

UNA starter Trey Mitchell (11-2) and closer Joel Sessions would make it stand up for the Lions putting the green-and-white away in the ninth after a brief flirtation with a comeback by the Statesmen. Mitchell allowed DSU to get two runners on base with one out before giving way to Sessions who quickly recorded two outs to end the threat and the game 10-5.

The game started out well enough for the Statesmen after falling behind 3-0 to UNA, DSU rallied for four runs in third to take a 4-3 lead. Kellen Bozeman, Michael Vinson, Brent Kakwitch and Cameron Robulak all collected RBIs in the inning, but DSU hit into a double play that ended the inning. It was a play that quelled what could have been a bigger inning for the Statesmen.

UNA came back in the bottom of the third to tie it at 4-4 on J.P. LaMunyon's solo blast down the left field line off Newcomb.

DSU took the lead back in the sixth on an RBI fielder's choice off the bat of Michael Niemann scoring Patrick Taylor from third. The play would be the last highlight of the day for the green-and-white.

Newcomb (7-7) was saddled with the loss after throwing 6.0 innings while allowing six runs on 10 hits with a pair of walks and eight strikeouts.

The Statesmen ended up using three relievers in the loss. Timothy Maloney faced one batter in the seventh before giving way to Harding, who pitched 1.2 innings and gave up four runs on three hits. Brent Hallmark worked the final out of the eighth.

Mitchell (11-2) pitched 8.1 innings for the Lions while giving up five runs, four earned, on 11 hits. The senior walked four and struck out three in the win. Sessions pitched the final 0.2 innings of the ninth.

Vinson paced the Statesmen at the plate with DSU's lone three hit performance. The sophomore from Southaven slapped a pair of singles and a double in the loss. He finished with a run scored and an RBI.

Bozeman and Robulack also closed the game with a pair of hits and an RBI.

UNA's Michael Schmidt was 3 for 4 with two RBIs while Cyr and Jared Mothershed delivered two hits each.

The Statesmen face Alabama-Huntsville, who fell to Harding 4-2, on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. in an elimination game while the Lions will face the winner at 1 p.m. inside USA Stadium.