Box Score CLEVELAND, Miss. – The No. 1 ranked Delta State University baseball team recorded an 11-1 victory in the season opener for the Statesmen (1-0) over the University of Montevallo Falcons (3-2) Friday, Feb. 8 at Ferriss Field.  The Statesmen plated 11 runs on 15 hits, while holding the Falcons to just one run on six hits.  The victory extended DSU's lead in the all-time series to 30-9.  The series will continue with a doubleheader on Saturday.

Todd Thompson scored the first run of the game on Vinny Rodriquez's RBI single to left to put the Falcons up 1-0 in the top of the first inning.  The run would prove to be the last for the Falcons, as DSU shutdown the UM offense over the next eight innings. 

The Statesmen came right back in the bottom of the first, as DSU plated four runs on five hits including RBI singles by Ben Kingsley, Tyler Aldridge and Carlos Leal. 

DSU added three runs in the bottom of the fifth to extend the lead to 7-1.  Leal added his second RBI on a groundout with Jami Rachal collecting an RBI triple and Josh Crowdus delivering an RBI double off UM reliever Devon Davis. 

The Statesmen plated three more runs in the bottom of the seventh off Falcons lefty Brandon Marshall to put the game out of reach 10-1.

UM threatened the top of the eighth with two runners on base, but DSU reliever Michael Manley worked out of the jam. 

DSU added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth on a bases loaded walk to Jordan Chovanec. 

Moore (1-0) worked 4.0 innings to earn the win for the Statesmen.  The senior from Calhoun City, Miss., allowed one run on three hits with a walk and three strikeouts.  Manley also worked 4.0 innings while giving up no runs and striking out five. 

Redshirt freshman Trevor Blocker closed out the game in ninth for the Statesmen. 

Shreves (1-1) took the loss for the Falcons after allowing four runs on seven hits.  Davis worked 2.0 innings giving up three runs on four hits.  Marshall worked 0.1 innings and gave up three earned runs on three hits. 

Aldridge led the Statesmen at the plate with a 3-for-5 performance and an RBI.  Kingsley, Rachal and Leal all finished with two RBIs. 

Thompson paced UM with two hits in four plate appearances.      

The Statesmen and Falcons will continue the three game series on Saturday with a doubleheader.  First pitch is set for 12 p.m. at Ferriss Field.