Box Score MILLINGTON, Tenn. – Facing elimination at the Gulf South Conference Baseball Tournament and the end to the 2011 season, Michael Vinson's RBI single off the right field wall capped a remarkable ninth inning comeback Saturday in Delta State's 7-6 victory over Alabama-Huntsville at USA Stadium. The rally puts the Statesmen into Sunday's loser's bracket semifinal at 4 p.m. against the loser of the Southern Arkansas/West Florida game.

The comeback would not have been possible without the effort of Statesman starter Josh Branstetter after a two-hour rain delay. With the Statesmen holding a 4-3 lead going into the top of the fourth, rains set in on USA Stadium and forced the umpires to call for the tarp. After sitting around for 2:04, the sophomore right-hander came back stronger than before the delay.

UAH battled back to tie the game in the sixth on Tyler Dorning's RBI fielder's choice scoring Parker, who had doubled to right and took third on Justin Riddle's groundout.

The Statesmen came right back in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead at 5-4 on Anthony Even's pinch-hit RBI single to left. With Chris Escobar due up in the inning and Patrick Taylor in scoring position at second, coach Royer brought in Eiland from the pen to end the day for starter Dustin Bryant. DSU skipper Mike Kinnison countered with Even off the bench and the junior from Franklin Park, Ill., delivered.

After UAH shortstop Grant DeBruin put the Chargers up 6-5 in the top of the seventh with a two-run home run off Branstetter, heads hung low in the DSU dugout and among the green-and-white faithful. That all changed with a bottom of the ninth inning comeback that keeps the Statesmen in contention for the GSC crown and NCAA postseason play.

Down 6-5 heading into the bottom of the ninth, Craig Herrmann led off the frame with a hot shot to DeBruin, but the slick fielding shortstop threw out the speedy Herrmann by a step to start the inning with an out. Anthony Even laced a chopper down the third base line forcing Chargers third baseman Jordan Parker into an errant throw to first that sailed down the right field line and allowed Even to take second. Senior centerfielder Michael Niemann delivered an RBI single past second baseman Corey Whittle to tie the game at 6-6, as Even came around to score from second.

As momentum swung to the Statesmen and UAH reliever Drew Eiland dug a deeper hole, Will McGinnis' smash to first glanced off the glove of Jon McKinney allowing the senior to reach first safely, but McKinney made up for the error with a strike to second that caught Niemann off guard and DeBruin applied the tag for the second out of the inning.

McGinnis took advantage of the situation and stole second after a curve in the dirt to Kellen Bozeman from Eiland. With first open, UAH head coach Hunter Royer called for the intentional walk to Bozeman bringing Vinson to the plate.

Eiland had made Vinson look bad in an earlier at-bat and the sophomore left fielder was confident in his ability against the Chargers lefthander. The UAH reliever quickly jumped ahead in the count with a breaking ball strike that Vinson missed with a big swing. Sitting on a fastball, Vinson turned on the Eiland offering and crushed a shot over right fielder Eric Deese off the wall for the game-winning hit and RBI. McGinnis scored easily from second and pandemonium ensued down the left field line as the Statesmen mauled Vinson.

Brent Hallmark (2-0) picked up the win in relief after retiring Deese to end a two-out threat by the Chargers in the top of the ninth. The junior from New Hope worked 0.1 innings allowing a walk before closing the door on UAH.

Branstetter worked 8.2 innings while allowing six runs, five earned, on 10 hits. The Pensacola, Fla., native did not give up a walk while striking out four Chargers in the no decision.

Eiland was the hard luck loser after throwing 3.0 solid innings of relief. The freshman from Auburn, Ala., allowed two runs on three hits with a walk in relief of Bryant, who threw 6.0 innings while giving up five runs on six hits with three walks and a strikeout.

Kakwitch paced the Statesmen offense on Saturday with three hits and two RBIs, including a two-RBI double in the first inning. It was his first two RBI performance Green Bay, Wisc., native since April 17 against Arkansas Tech at Ferriss Field and his first three hit performance since March 12 versus Arkansas-Monticello.

Niemann finished the day 1 for 4 with two RBIs as well while Vinson was 1 for 3 with the game-winner and a pair of walks.

UAH's Chacelor finished with three hits while DeBruin was 2 for 4 with three RBIs.

The Statesmen Sports Network will broadcast Sunday's game starting at 4 p.m. with the Shelter Insurance Statesman Baseball Dugout Report. Matt Jones and Jimmy Smith will have the call.