Box Score CLEVELAND, Miss. – The No. 13 Statesmen (6-0) of Delta State University claimed their sixth straight victory 11-2 over the Delta Devils (0-3) of Mississippi Valley State University on Tuesday, Feb. 21 at Ferriss Field. DSU finished the day with 11 runs on 12 hits with one error, while MVSU closed out the contest with two runs on 10 hits and two errors.

Delta State jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning on a two RBI single by Brent Kakwitch and a two RBI double from Ben Kingsley.  DSU plated an insurance run on an RBI ground out by Chad Fortenberry.

The green-and-white chased MVSU starter David Lostra with two additional runs in the third inning, as Sam Kidd delivered a two RBI double and a second RBI single from Kakwitch, which chased the Delta Devils starter.

DSU tacked on three insurance runs in the sixth to take a commanding 11-0 lead.  Josh Crowdus came through with a two RBI single, while Jordan Chovanec tacked on a run on an RBI groundout. 

MVSU scored two runs in the top of the ninth off Statesmen reliever Brandon Hardin to make the final 11-2.
Statesmen starter Jordan Moore (1-0) earned the win in his first start of the season.  The Calhoun City, Miss., native tossed 4.0 scoreless innings, allowing two hits with one walk and two strikeouts.

Rickey Winters (2.0), Jared Bond (1.0) and Bobby Bryan (1.0) all worked in relief.  Hardin allowed two unearned runs in the final inning for DSU.

MVSU's David Lostra (0-1) took the loss after throwing 2.1 innings and giving up eight earned runs with two walks and four strikeouts.  The Delta Devils used three additional relievers in the game.

Kakwitch led the Statesmen at the plate with a 3-for-5 day.  The senior from Green Bay, Wisc., added three RBIs and scored one run.

Chovanec also collected two hits for the Statesmen, while Kingsley, Crowdus and Kidd all delivered two RBIs each.

The Statesmen will certainly be tested this weekend, as Delta State squares off against Florida Southern (6-5), No. 2 Tampa (8-0) and Barry (3-5).  All three teams were ranked at some point this season and have competed recently in NCAA Regional play.  The three-game crossover between the Gulf South Conference's Valdosta State, No. 1 West Florida, DSU and three Sunshine State Conference schools will be played at VSU's Billy Grant Field. 

DSU and FSC will play Friday at 12 p.m. EST followed by Tampa at 12 p.m. on Saturday and Barry at 11 a.m. on Sunday.  All three games will be broadcast on the Statesmen Sports Internet Radio Network.