Box Score CLEVELAND – After a Saturday sweep, the Delta State University baseball team took the field Sunday looking to close out a three-game GSC sweep of the University of New Orleans. However, the Privateers came out on Sunday, and got a great pitching performance of their own and cruised to a 7-0 victory.

The game was scoreless through the first four innings of play. The Privateers threatened early on, but Statesmen starter Josh Branstetter was able to work his way out of the early jams.

That changed in the fifth inning when the Privateers (14-21, 6-14 GSC) scored the first two runs of the game. With runners on the corners, a failed pick-off throw by Branstetter went past Brent Langston at first, and Jonathan Coco was able to score from third. The error also allowed Dan Perkins to advance to third, and Perkins was later brought home by a sacrifice fly from Blake LeBlanc.

Up 2-0, the Privateers added to their lead in the seventh inning. With Brandon Simon on base, Stephen Farrell hit a home run over the fence in left center field. The shot put the Privateers up 4-0. After adding a run in the eighth inning, the New Orleans offense struck again in the ninth. Farrell, who homered in the seventh, crushed another homer in the ninth inning. The two run blast put the Privateers up 7-0, which is where the game would stay.

The Statesmen (26-11, 11-7 GSC) offense could never get going in the game. They managed just five hits in the game, and were shut out for the second time in a week for the first time since the 2000 season.

Branstetter (2-3) suffered the loss. He pitched 6.1 innings, gave up four runs but only two were earned, walked one, and struck out four. Jared Bond pitched 1.2 innings in relief, and gave up three runs with only two being earned. James Hudelson came in from the bullpen in the ninth, and struck out three.

Jake Fabre (4-6) pitched a complete game for the Privateers, and picked up the win. Fabre allowed just five hits in nine shutout innings, and struck out two.

The Statesmen will look to get back on track this Wednesday, as they host former GSC foe Southern Arkansas at Ferriss Field. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. with airtime on the Statesmen Sports Network beginning at 6:15 p.m.