Box Score MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The Delta State baseball team was down to their final three outs heading into the top of the ninth Saturday at Kermit Johnson Field. However, the Statesmen put together a huge rally in the ninth, and came away with the 17-10 victory over the University of Montevallo.

Unlike the first game of the series, Saturday's game started as a pitching duel with neither team putting up any runs in the first four innings.

That changed in the top of the fifth when the Statesmen (2-0) broke the game open with four runs. Josh Crowdus reached base in the inning with a one-out single. After Sam Kidd was hit by a pitch, Brent Kakwitch was walked to load the bases. Michael Vinson then came through for the Statesmen with a triple down the right field line that cleared the bases. Vinson later scored when a ball got passed Montevallo catcher Blaine Rosenberg.

Already up by four, the Statesmen added two more runs in the top of the sixth. Vinson added to his RBI total with a double to left center field. The extra base hit scored Brent Kakwitch and Josh Crowdus, and it extended the Statesmen lead to 6-0 headed to the bottom of the sixth inning.

Down six and in the need of runs, the Montevallo (2-4) offense came through and got back into the game with four runs in the sixth. Heath Peterson brought home the first run for Montevallo when he sent a base hit into center field that scored Chris Ross and Austin Dubberly. Will Fulmer later scored on a wild pitch, and Peterson scored when Rosenberg doubled to left center.

Back in the game, the Falcons added another run in the seventh before taking the lead in the eighth inning behind five runs. In the eighth Rosenburg led off with a double to right center, and then advanced to third on a bunt single by Ryan York. Zack Willoughby then hit a three-run homer that gave the Falcons a two run lead at 8-6. Ross followed with a home run of his own to push the Montevallo lead to 9-6. The Falcons added one more run in the eighth off a double from Vincente Andrews, and took a 10-6 lead into the ninth.

Down to their final at-bat, the Statesmen needed a rally to extend the game. The Statesmen got a boost to start the inning when Ben Kingsley and Brent Langston were walked back-to-back. With two men on base Chad Fortenberry doubled to right center, and scored Kingsley. Justin Badon then singled, and scored Langston, which cut the deficit to just two at 10-8. Marc McMillian was then which loaded the bases for the Statesmen. With the bases loaded Sam Kidd was hit by a pitch that brought home another run, and made it a one run game. After Kakwitch went down on strikes, the Statesmen took the lead when Dubberly let the ball get by him at second base. Two runs came home for the Statesmen on the error, and the Statesmen found themselves back in front 11-10.

The inning was not over for the Statesmen, as Carnahan reached on a base hit that scored Kidd. Kingsley, up for the second time in the inning smacked a triple into right field that scored two more runs for the Statesmen.  After Langston walked for the second time in the inning, Hunter Twitty laced a double to left field that scored Kingsley. Langston later scored on another error from the Falcons, and Twitty scored on a sacrifice fly from Kidd to round out the scoring. The barrage put the Statesmen up 17-10 heading into the bottom of the ninth.
Brandon Hardin took the mound for the Statesmen, and finished off the game with two strikeouts in the inning that helped the Statesmen finish the come back with a 17-10 victory

Hardin (1-0) who pitched the ninth for the Statesmen picked up the win. Josh Branstetter got the start for the Statesmen, and pitched six innings. Branstetter allowed three hits, struck out six, and gave up four runs; none of the runs were earned. Overall, the Statesmen used five pitchers during the game.

Drew Boyer (0-1) suffered the loss for the Falcons. Boyer pitched in the ninth, but pitcher Nathan Flanagan started the inning. Boyer allowed three earned runs on six hits in the final inning. Michael Shreves started the game for Montevallo, and pitched five innings. Shreves gave up four earned runs on six hits, and struck out eight. All four runs on Shreves were
scored in the fifth inning.

The Statesmen scored 17 runs on 12 hits, and committed three errors in Saturday's game. Montevallo scored 10 runs on 12 hits, and committed five fielding errors.

The Statesmen and Falcons finish their series Sunday afternoon with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. You can listen to the action live on gostatesmen.com with air time set for 12:55 p.m.