Box Score PENSACOLA, Fla. – Josh Branstetter pitched a complete game gem to lead the No. 23 ranked Statesmen (20-8, 7-5 GSC) of Delta State University to a 9-3 victory and series sweep of the No. 11 Argonauts (22-11, 4-7 GSC) of the University of West Florida Sunday at Jim Spooner Field.  The sweep was the first for the Statesmen at UWF's home field and puts the Green-and-White back in the Gulf South Conference regular season title hunt.   

The Statesmen took advantage of West Florida's inability to find the strikezone in the top of the first inning, plating nine runs on just two hits.  UWF used four pitchers in the frame, issuing 10 free passes, including five hit-by-pitches.  Jon Carnahan, Michael Vinson and Sam Kidd all had two RBIs in the inning. 

DSU starter Josh Branstetter, a Pensacola, Fla., native, picked up where the offense left off with a three up, three down inning to set the tone for the day. 

The Statesmen threatened again in the top of the third after back-to-back singles by Ben Kingsley and Carnahan, but UWF freshman lefty Jordan DeLorenzo got out of the jam by retiring Brent Kakwitch on a lineout to Josh Huggins at third.

The middle innings went without much fanfare for either team, as DSU used a pair of double plays to keep UWF at bay except for the fourth inning where Huggins' RBI single brought home Taye Larry for the Argonauts first run. 

In the bottom of the sixth, UWF chipped away again at the DSU lead with two runs on four hits.  Eric Sauls delivered an RBI double to left-center and Richie Long connected on an RBI single to right, all off Branstetter. 

Branstetter (2-1) pitched all nine innings, allowing three runs on eight hits with three strikeouts and a walk to earn the victory.  The nine-inning gem was the second straight win for the hard-throwing righty. 

UWF starter Brian Ellington (5-3) was saddled with the loss, but the fourth reliever out of the pen Jordan DeLorenzo was outstanding working 8.0 scoreless innings with seven strikeouts. 

Jon Carnahan paced the Statesmen at the plate with a 3-for-3 performance.  The senior also delivered two RBIs in the win. 

Vinson and Kidd, who was 2-for-4 at the plate, also drove in two each with Kingsley, Kakwitch and Andrews bringing around one.

UWF's Huggins was 3-for-3 with an RBI to pace the Argonauts.    

Delta State claimed the doubleheader sweep on Saturday winning game one 8-1 and taking game two 8-2.  The wins marked the first series victory for the Statesmen over the Argonauts since March 9, 2008.  

The Statesmen return to Ferriss Field on Tuesday, April 3 to face the Boll Weevils of the University of Arkansas-Monticello.  Game time is set for 6:30 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on the Statesmen Sports Network starting at 6:15 p.m.