Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 CLEVELAND, Miss. – The No. 7 Statesmen (11-3) of Delta State University split a Saturday doubleheader with the Wildcats (12-8) of Abilene Christian University winning game one 9-4 before falling in the nightcap 6-3 at Ferriss Field.  The game two loss was the first this season for the Statesmen at home. 

The Statesmen clawed back from a 4-3 deficit to claim a 9-4 victory in game one of Saturday's doubleheader with Abilene Christian University at Ferriss Field.  DSU plated nine runs on nine hits with one error, while ACU collected four runs on nine hits with one error.

Delta State jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first on Michael Vinson's towering three-run home run, his second of the season, to right. 

After giving up four runs in the top of sixth to fall behind 4-3 to the Wildcats, the Statesmen erupted for five runs in the bottom of the inning to take an 8-3 lead.  Jon Carnahan, Tyler Aldridge and Jordan Chovanec drove in one run, while Jonathon Andrews closed out the inning with a two-RBI single to left.

DSU tacked on a run in the eighth on an RBI ground out by Sam Kidd to take make the final 9-4. 

Aaron Newcomb (4-0) picked up the win after tossing 8.0 innings of four run ball.  The Centralia, Ill., native allowed four earned runs on nine hits with two walks and six strikeouts.  Brandon Hardin worked a scoreless ninth to slam the door on ACU. 

Vinson went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBIs to pace the Statesmen at the plate.  Andrews was 1-for-3 with two RBIs as well. 

ACU's Kevin Finklea led the Wildcats hitters with a 2-for-4 day at the plate. 

In game two, the Wildcats made two comebacks to claim the 6-3 victory.  ACU finished the game with six runs on 11 hits with two errors while the Statesmen managed just three runs on eight hits with three errors. 

DSU scored two early runs in the first inning on a error by ACU right fielder Rodge Macy allowing Brent Kakwitch and Ben Kingsley to score.

ACU's Macy cut the Statesmen lead to 2-1 on an RBI single to left, scoring Finklea, who walked to leadoff the inning, from third.

The Wildcats tacked on two runs in the top of the fifth to go up 3-2.  Travis Schuetz and Duncan Blades came around to score for ACU.

The Statesmen tied it up at 3-3 in the bottom of the inning on an RBI infield single by Ben Kingsley that scored Andrews from second. 

After a scoreless sixth, ACU tagged the Statesmen for three runs in the top of the inning on a solo home run by Kyle Conwell (1) and RBI singles by Chuck Duarte and Schuetz. 

Delta State made a run at it in the bottom of the seventh, but three groundouts to the shortstop ended the threat and preserved the ACU win. 

ACU's Josh Stone (3-1) picked up the win in relief after coming on for starter Austin Palmer.  Stone worked 1.1 scoreless innings with a walk and a strikeout.  Palmer pitched 5.2 innings while giving up three runs on eight hits with three walks and three strikeouts. 

DSU's Cullen Babin (1-1) took the loss after throwing 2.0 innings of relief.  The junior from Houma, La., allowed three runs on six hits with a pair of walks.  James Huddleson tossed a third of an inning with a strikeout. 

Statesman starter Colton Mitchell did not factor in the decision after throwing 4.2 innings.  The Lake, Miss., native allowed three runs, two earned, on five hits with three walks and five strikeouts. 

Kingsley went 2-for-4 with an RBI in game two for the Statesmen, while Morris Grant collected his first career hit for DSU with a 2-3 performance at the plate. 

Conwell led ACU at the plate with a 2-for-3 performance with two RBIs. 

The third and final game of the series is set for 1 p.m. Sunday at Ferriss Field.  The game will be broadcast on the Statesmen Sports Network with Matt Jones and Eric Gallo on the call.  Airtime is set for 12:45 p.m. with the DSU Alumni Statesmen Game Day Report.