Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 FLORENCE, Ala. – The No. 15 ranked Statesmen (23-8, 9-5 GSC) of Delta State University continued their hot play Saturday, April 6 with a pair of wins, 9-4 and 9-7 (9), over the No. 8 ranked Lions (26-11, 7-7 GSC) of the University of North Alabama.  The Statesmen moved into sole possession of second place in the Gulf South Conference standings with the wins and claimed their second straight series victory over a nationally top 10 ranked opponent. 

The Statesmen used the arm of Aaron Newcomb and timely hitting to put away the Lions 9-4 in game one of the series on Friday at Mike Lane Field in Florence, Ala.  Newcomb (6-2) pitched 8.0 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits, with nine strikeouts to earn his second straight win against a top 10 ranked opponent.

DSU jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the second, as Tyler Aldridge delivered an RBI single to center, scoring Brent Kakwitch from second. 

The Statesmen made it 5-1 with four runs in the fifth off UNA starter Johnny Hornbuckle.  Ben Kingsley, Michael Vinson and Brent Langston all came through with RBIs for the Green-and-White.

The Lions made a game of it in the sixth and seventh innings, plating four unanswered runs and cutting the DSU lead to 5-4.  Michael Schmidt smashed an RBI double in the sixth and knocked a three-RBI double to right center in the seventh for UNA.

With the game on the line, the Statesmen erupted for four runs in the ninth off Hornbuckle and UNA reliever Brantly Claunch.  Jon Carnahan started the scoring for DSU with an RBI rope to left.  Langston finished off the inning with a pair of RBIs on a single to center. 

After facing two batters in he top of the ninth, Newcomb was pulled for closer Brandon Hardin.  The senior from Pinckneyville, Ill., promptly retired all three batters he faced, including a strikeout. 

Newcomb (6-2) picked up the win for the Statesmen, while UNA's Hornbuckle (5-5) was saddled with the loss.  Both Claunch and Hardin worked one inning of relief each. 

Kingsley went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI to lead the Statesmen at the plate.  Langston was 2-for-4 with three RBIs, while Aldridge finished 2-for-5 with an RBI. 

Schmidt paced all UNA hitters with a 2-for-4 performance with four RBIs. 

In game two, the Lions struck first on a two-RBI double by Darmal Moore, scoring Carpenter from second and Drew Parker from first, in the bottom of the second inning.

After loading the bases in the bottom of the fourth, UNA's Schmidt took a pitch in the back from DSU starter Colton Mitchell plating Carpenter and giving the Lions a 3-1 lead. 

DSU finally scratched the board in the top of the fifth, as Kidd's RBI groundout scored Brent Langston from third. 

The Lions made it 5-1 in the bottom of the fifth, plating two runs on an RBI single by Carpenter and an RBI double by Andrew Almon.  The runs were enough to chase Mitchell from the game for DSU.

The Statesmen finally chased UNA starter Michael Watkins in the top of the sixth, scoring six runs on three hits to take a 7-5 lead.  Aldridge, Chad Fortenberry and Kingsley, who gave the Statesmen the lead with a two-RBI single to left, all drove in runs for DSU.  The Lions used four pitchers in the frame, including their close Ben Seabrook, who gave up the single to Kingsley.

Errors cost the Statesmen in the bottom of the sixth, as two errors by Justin Badon helped two runs come in for UNA, tying the game at 7-7.  With the two outs and a 7-5 lead for the Statesmen, Carpenter hit a slow roller in the middle infield, but Badon couldn't handle the hop allowing Doyle to score from third.  Almon followed with a single to left to tie the game at 7-7.  DSU's Jared Bond was able to work out of the inning to preserve the tie.

After failing to score Brent Kakwitch, who doubled with one out, in the top of the seventh, UNA had a perfect opportunity to put the game away with back-to-back walks to Moore and Schmidt had runners at first and second with no one out.  After a bunt sacrifice by Doyle moved the runners up 90 feet, Statesman closer Brandon Hardin retired the next two hitters to preserve the tie.

Both teams failed to score runs in the seventh and eighth innings after each had great chances to do so in each frame. 

DSU finally broke back in the top of the ninth with two runs on three hits to take the 9-7 lead over UNA.  After a one out single by Carnahan, Vinson crushed an RBI double down the left field line.  Kakwitch came through with a single, scoring Morris Grant from second, who came on to pinch run for Vinson. 

In the ninth, Hardin retired the Lions in order to slam the door shut on any hopes of a UNA comeback. 

Hardin (2-4) earned the win in relief, working 3.0 scoreless innings with one strikeout.   DSU used five pitchers in the marathon win, while UNA tossed six pitchers, including Ben Seabrook (0-1) who took the loss in relief. 

It was a complete team effort, as six Statesmen drove in runs in the win.  Carnahan, Kakwitch and Aldridge all had two hits to lead DSU. 

Saturday's series finale is set for 1 p.m. at Lane Field.  The game will be broadcast on the Statesmen Sports Network starting at 12:45 p.m. with the DSU Alumni Association Statesman Game Day.  Matt Jones and Eric Gallo will have the call.