GAME NOTES: Mississippi Valley State/Florida Southern at No. 1 Delta State University (Feb. 18-24, 2013)
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CLEVELAND, MISS. - The No. 1 Statesmen (6-0, 0-0 GSC) of Delta State University continue their 10-game home stand to open the 2013 season with a Tuesday, Feb. 19 showdown with Mississippi Valley State University (1-3, 0-0 SWAC) and a weekend series with perennial national power Florida Southern College (4-7, 0-0 SSC).  Tuesday's game with MVSU is slated for 3 p.m. with the weekend series set to begin Friday at 3 p.m. and follow with 1 p.m. starts on Saturday and Sunday. 

The Statesmen made quick work on No. 16 Nova Southeastern this past weekend at Ferriss Field sweeping all three games by a combined score of 36-7.  Tyler Aldridge his .500 for the series with four RBI and six runs scored, while Sam Kidd (5), Jami Rachal (5) and Michael Vinson (6) all recorded series-highs for RBIs. 

DSU's starting pitching was also a focal point on the weekend as all three starters combined for zero runs in 18.0 innings pitched.  Michael Manley claimed the win in game one with eight strikeouts in 6.0 innings of work.  Josh Branstetter and Colton Mitchell also worked 6.0 innings each and combined for eight strikeouts in games two and three.

The 2012 Gulf South Conference champions, Delta State University Statesmen, were selected by the coaches to enter the 2013 season as the preseason favorite.  Delta State topped the coaches' poll garnering 48 total points. West Florida boasted two first-place votes to place second with 43 points, while North Alabama secured third place with 36 points. Both Alabama-Huntsville and Valdosta State tied for fourth with 29 points each.  West Alabama recorded 18 points for fifth place, followed by West Georgia with 14. Rounding out the eight-team preseason coaches' poll was Christian Brothers with seven points.

Delta State University placed five players on the 2013 Gulf South Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll All-GSC Team.  The five Statesmen named to the squad included Jordan Chovanec (CF), Colton Mitchell (LHP), Sam Kidd (RF), Michael Vinson (LF) and Josh Branstetter (RHP).

The Statesmen feature four players on the Tino Martinez NCAA DII National Player of the Year Preseason Watch List.  Led by ABCA All-American Michael Vinson, the group also includes rightfielder Sam Kidd, right-handed pitcher Josh Branstetter and left-handed pitcher Colton Mitchell.

Coach Mike Kinnison begins his 17th season as head coach of the Statesmen.  In his previous 16 seasons as head coach, Kinnison has guided the Statesmen to the 2004 NCAA National title, five College World Series appearances, eight NCAA South Regional appearances, 11 GSC Western Division titles, five NCAA South/South-Central Regional championships and five Gulf South Conference titles.

UP NEXT
Delta State will travel to UA-Monticello (2.26/1 p.m.) and Harding (2.27/1 p.m.) for a pair of mid-week games before returning to Ferriss Field to open Gulf South Conference play with No. 6 West Florida (8-1, 0-0 GSC) on Saturday, March 2 at 12 p.m.

DELTA STATE-MISSISSIPPI VALLEY CONTINUE SERIES
The Statesmen and Delta Devils will renew their annual series on Tuesday, Feb. 19 at Ferriss Field.  The game marks the 93rd meeting all-time between the two schools with DSU owning a commanding 77-15 advantage in the standings.  DSU and MVSU have split the season series each of the last two years.

FLORIDA SOUTHERN TO VISIT FERRISS FIELD
Perennial national power Florida Southern College, the NCAA DII leader in national championships and wins, will travel to Ferriss Field for a three game series with the Statesmen Feb. 22-24.  Friday's series opener begins at 3 p.m.

The two national powers have met on 12 previous occasions with the Mocs leading the series standings 7-5.  DSU defeated FSC in the last meeting 16-1 on Feb. 24, 2012 at the GSC-SSC Classic at Valdosta, Ga. 

SIX AND COUNTING
The Statesmen made quick work on No. 16 Nova Southeastern this past weekend at Ferriss Field sweeping all three games by a combined score of 36-7.  Tyler Aldridge his .500 for the series with four RBI and six runs scored, while Sam Kidd (5), Jami Rachal (5) and Michael Vinson (6) all recorded series-highs for RBIs. 

DSU's starting pitching was also a focal point on the weekend as all three starters combined for zero runs in 18.0 innings pitched.  Michael Manley claimed the win in game one with eight strikeouts in 6.0 innings of work.  Josh Branstetter and Colton Mitchell also worked 6.0 innings each and combined for eight strikeouts in games two and three.  

KIDD OFF TO A FAST START FOR STATESMEN
Senior rightfielder Sam Kidd is off to a blistering start for the Statesmen this season.  Through the first six games, Kidd is batting .450 with seven runs scored and seven RBIs.  The Hartford, Ky., native also leads the Statesmen with four stolen bases while going 9-for-20 at the plate with six walks and two hit-by-pitches.    

The former University of Kentucky transfer led the GSC in runs scored last season with 70, besting anyone in the league by 13 runs.  In 64 games last season, all starts, Kidd batted .310 with 10 doubles, two triples, four home runs and knocked in 51 runs.  In 122 chances in RF, Kidd committed just four errors and delivered five outfield assists. 

MANLEY SHINES IN FIRST START
Junior right-handed pitcher Michael Manley made the most of his first career start as a Statesmen, tossing 6.0 shutout innings in a 13-0 victory over No. 16 Nova Southeastern in the series opener.  The Raymond, Miss., native allowed just one hit with a career-high eight strikeouts in the win. 

It was the second appearance of the season for the Meridian (Miss.) Community College transfer, who struck out five in 4.0 innings of relief versus Montevallo in the season-opener.

In two outings, Manley is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA.  He has thrown 10.0 consecutive scoreless innings with 13 strikeouts.   

ALDRIDGE DELIVERING AT CAREER PACE
Senior second baseman Tyler Aldridge hasn't cooled off since the Statesmen began play in last year's Gulf South Conference Tournament.  The Steens, Miss., native has used last year's blistering finish to jump-start 2013.  Through six games, the Aldridge is batting .440 with a team-high 11 hits and three doubles.  The former East Mississippi CC transfer is 11-for-25 at the plate with eight runs scored and five RBIs.  

Aldridge, who blossomed in the postseason, hit .321 last year with 12 doubles and 23 RBIs while playing 62 games at second base with 55 starts.

VINSON JOINS 200-HIT CLUB; NEARING RECORD BOOK
Michael Vinson, a senior leftfielder, collected his 200th career hit versus No. 16 Nova Southeastern on a 3-run home run to right field in DSU's 13-4 game two victory Saturday, Feb. 16 at Ferriss Field. 

The Southaven, Miss., native, who is on the verge of cracking into the top 10 in several DSU career categories, is a career .345 hitter with 200 hits in 578 at-bats.  The All-American has scored 121 runs with 40 doubles, five triples, 10 home runs and 139 RBIs in his 165 game career at Delta State.  

BRANSTETTER CLAIMS 18TH CAREER WIN
Senior right-hander Josh Branstetter (1-0, 0.75 ERA), who needs just one inning of work to crack into the DSU record book, earned his 18th career win with 6.0 shutout innings of work versus No. 16 Nova Southeastern last Saturday in DSU's 13-4 victory at Ferriss Field.

The Pensacola, Fla., native is 18-7 all-time at DSU.  In 246.0 innings pitched, Branstetter has allowed 117 runs, just 83 earned, on 232 hits with a mere 46 walks and 182 strikeouts.  

PICKENS DOMINANT IN RETURN TO HILL
Redshirt senior reliever Garrett Pickens, who missed all of 2012 with an injury, has been nothing short of dominant since making his return to the mound in 2013.  In two appearances, the Yazoo City, Miss., native is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA and a save.  In 3.0 innings pitched, Pickens has allowed zero runs on just two hits with a walk.  He claimed a win on opening weekend versus Montevallo in DSU's 8-7 series finale victory and earned a rare three inning save in a 13-0 victory over No. 16 Nova Southeastern in game one at Ferriss Field. 

NEWCOMERS MAKING STATEMENT FOR STATESMEN
DSU features two new starters in a lineup that returned six everyday fixtures last season and those newcomers are making a statement for the Statesmen.  Junior third baseman Jami Rachal has started all six games at the hot corner for DSU and is batting .409 with nine hits, a triple and five RBIs. 

Junior catcher Carlos Leal has also made quite an impression at the plate and behind the dish.  The Guaynabo, Puerto Rico native leads DSU with a .467 average with six RBIs and eight runs scored.  He has collected two walks and been hit by three pitches.  Behind the dish, Leal has helped the Statesmen to a 2.60 ERA and six-straight wins.

PAYS TO BE THE KING
Senior designated hitter Ben Kingsley has gotten off to a quick start at the plate for the Statesmen with a .350 average and a team-leading eight RBIs. 

STATESMEN SWEEP FALCONS TO OPEN 2013 SEASON
Delta State is coming off a three game sweep of the University of Montevallo (3-4) in the season-opening series at Ferriss Field.  The Statesmen took games one and two easily, 11-1 and 7-1, but needed to rally from two runs down in the bottom of the 9th for a 9-8 victory in game three.   

DELTA STATE PICKED TO REPEAT AS GSC CHAMPIONS
The 2012 Gulf South Conference champions, Delta State University, was selected by the coaches to enter the 2013 season as the preseason favorite on Wednesday.  Traditional power Delta State topped the coaches' poll garnering 48 total points. West Florida boasted two first-place votes to place second with 43 points, while North Alabama secured third place with 36 points. Both Alabama-Huntsville and Valdosta State tied for fourth with 29 points each.

West Alabama recorded 18 points for fifth place, followed by West Georgia, with 14. Rounding out the eight-team preseason coaches' poll was Christian Brothers, with seven points.

STATESMEN PLACE FIVE ON PRESEASON ALL-GSC
Ten 2012 All-GSC First Team standouts highlight the 20-member 2013 Baseball Preseason All-GSC Team, led by five Statesmen.   Overall, Delta State returned the most players with five, followed by West Florida and North Alabama, which added four each. Alabama-Huntsville and West Alabama both had two players, while Christian Brothers, West Georgia and Valdosta State all rounded out the contingent with one player each.

The five Statesmen named to the squad included Jordan Chovanec (CF), Colton Mitchell (LHP), Sam Kidd (RF), Michael Vinson (LF) and Josh Branstetter (RHP).

STATESMEN RANK NO.1 ALL-TIME IN WINS IN GSC
Delta State University baseball holds the distinction of owning the most conference titles (12) in Gulf South Conference history.  DSU also holds the honor of being the all-time winningest program in league history with 1,780 victories.  Since 1933, the Statesmen are 1,789-880-11. 

NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR CANDIDATES
The Statesmen feature four players on the Tino Martinez NCAA DII National Player of the Year Watch List.  Led by ABCA All-American Michael Vinson, the group also includes rightfielder Sam Kidd, right-handed pitcher Josh Branstetter and left-handed pitcher Colton Mitchell.

Vinson played in 62 games last season with 60 starts in left field.  The Southaven, Miss., native led the Statesmen in RBIs (53), doubles (15), triples (3), home runs (5) and was second on the team in batting average (.342) and hits (75). 

Kidd is the only player returning who played in all 64 games last season for the Statesmen.  The Hartford, Ky., native was second on the team with 51 RBIs, 75 hits and 19 stolen bases.  He finished the year hitting .310 with 10 doubles, two triples and four home runs. 

Two of the top pitchers in all of DII, Josh Branstetter and Colton Mitchell combined for a 15-5 record in 2010 and 192 strikeouts.  Branstetter, a native of Pensacola, Fla., went 7-3 with a 3.01 ERA and a team-high 104 strikeouts.  Mitchell, a Lake, Miss., native, was 8-2 with a 3.50 ERA and 88 strikeouts. 

700-CLUB KINNISON STYLE
Delta State University head baseball coach Mike Kinnison, a member of the MS Sports Hall of Fame, joined the 700-win club last season. He enters the year with a 709-216-1 record.

COVERED LIKE PLASTIC WRAP
The trio of Tyler Aldridge (2B), Jonathon Andrews (SS) and Josh Crowdus (SS) manned the middle of the Statesmen defense last season, producing quality numbers offensively and defensively.  Add in junior transfer Kasey Hinton and the Statesmen have the middle infield covered like plastic wrap.

DID YOU KNOW...
Former Delta State head coach and Boston Red Sox Hall of Famer Dave “Boo” Ferriss made his professional debut on April 29, 1945?  In fact, Ferriss through a complete-game five-hit shutout in Boston's 2-0 win over Philadelphia.  The Shaw, Miss., native was also 3-for-3 at the plate with a run scored.