Box Score ROME, Ga.—The No.8 Delta State University baseball team took the field Friday for day one of the GSC Tournament at State Mutual Stadium in Rome, Ga. The top-seeded Statesmen got a fight from No. 8 seed Christian Brothers, but the Statesmen were able to come away with a 5-4 victory.

Christian Brothers (11-36) was first on the scoreboard with a run in the top of the second inning. With two outs, Josh Ambuehl reached base when he was hit by a pitch. Ambuehl then came around to score when Alan Wright sent a double down the left field line.

The Buccaneers added a second run in the top of the fifth inning. With two outs in the inning, Jimmy Franklin reached on an infield single. Will Wilson then reached base on a Statesmen throwing error that allowed franklin to come around and score.

Down 2-0, the Statesmen (36-11) offense came around with a big fifth inning. The first five batters of the inning for the Statesmen all reached with singles. Sam Kidd's single was enough to bring home Josh Crowdus for the Statesmen's first run. An infield single by Jon Carnahan brought Jordan Chovanec home to tie the game at 2-2. After Ben Kingsley brought a run home for the Statesmen on a sacrifice fly to center field, Brent Langston brought home two more runs with a double to right field. The runs gave the Statesmen a 5-2 lead after five innings.

CBU did not go away as they brought a run home in the top of the seventh. Franklin singled down the left field line to start the inning. Wilson then reached on a base hit, and a Statesmen error allowed Franklin to come around and score. The Bucs threatened again in the eighth inning. With runners on second and third with two outs, Brandon Hardin was able to force a ground ball to get the third out of the inning.

The Statesmen entered the ninth inning with a two run lead, but the Bucs did not go away quietly. The Bucs loaded the bases, and brought a run home on a fielder's choice to close the lead to just one at 5-4. The Bucs had runners on the corners with two outs, but Hardin was able to strike out Wright to end the game to give the Statesmen the 5-4 victory.

Josh Branstetter (5-3) got the start in game one for the Statesmen, and picked up the victory. Branstetter pitched 7.1 innings, allowed three runs but only one was earned, struck out five, and walked two. Hardin (5) pitched 1.2 innings out of the Statesmen bullpen and recorded the save.

Jake Garbuzinski started the game for CBU, and suffered the loss.  Garbuzinski pitched 4.1 innings, gave up five earned runs, walked two, and struck out one.

The Statesmen will face the winner of North Alabama and Valdosta State Saturday in the second round. Game time for tomorrow is set for 7:30 p.m. EST, 6:30 p.m. local Cleveland time, with airtime on the Statesmen Sports Network scheduled for 7:15 p.m. EST.