Box Score ABILENE, Texas – The Delta State University Statesmen fell to Abilene Christian 10-4 Wednesday afternoon at Crutcher Scott Field.

The Statesmen (17-4) outhit the Wildcats (12-9) 15-13 but stranded 12 base runners, including nine in scoring position. Abilene Christian scored all 10 runs in two innings, scoring three in the third and seven in the sixth.

Jordan Chovanec had a leadoff single to open the game and Sam Kidd was hit by a pitch with one out, but consecutive groundouts stranded the two Statesmen in the first, ending an early threat.

The Wildcats had some opportunities early as well. In the first, ACU drew two walks and a hit by pitch before grounding out in a double play to end the threat with the bases loaded.

With two outs in the third, Tyler Aldridge and Kidd had consecutive singles. However, the Statesmen could not continue the inning, stranding both with a strikeout.

Aldridge's single extended his hitting streak to 21 games on the season.

The Wildcats were poised to take the lead early in the third, but Michael Vinson threw a strike to Ben Pickard at home, catching Seth Spivey who tried to score from second on a single to left.

After Casey Greene came in to relieve starter Drew Milligan, a walk to the next batter set up Abilene Christian to take the lead, capitalizing on a three straight RBI singles.

Milligan (1-1) picked up the loss, giving up a run in 2.2 innings pitched. Casey Green gave up two runs in .1 innings of work.

In the fourth, Kasey Hinton reached on a two-out single. The hit for Hinton extended the junior's hitting streak to 11 games.

The Statesmen had two runners in the fifth inning off of a walk by Chovanec and Aldridge's second hit of the day. However, Kidd grounded into a double play to end the inning.

The Statesmen got on the scoreboard in the sixth inning. Ricky Velez, Hinton and Ben Pickard all singled with two outs. With the bases loaded, Velez took home on a passed ball, but the Statesmen stranded two more with a ground out back to the pitcher by pinch hitter Brent Langston.

Abilene Christian answered in the bottom of the sixth, scoring seven runs off of Colton Mitchell and Michael Manley. Mitchell, who pitched two scoreless innings heading into the sixth, gave up four runs, recording only one out. Manley gave up three runs on two hits and two walks in .1 innings pitched. Travis Northern recorded the final out of the inning.

Northern finished with 1.2 innings pitched, giving up only one hit.

Chovanec, Aldridge and Kidd loaded the bases in the seventh to start the inning. Michael Vinson singled to right, scoring Chovanec and Aldridge, but the Statesmen stranded two more runners in scoring position after a strikeout and a pop out ended the inning.

In the eighth, Pickard led off with a double down the line and then scored on a Jonathan Andrews single. Chovanec followed it up with a single, but then was thrown out trying to advance to second on a wild pitch.

The Statesmen return to action Saturday, opening up a three-game conference series at Christian Brothers. The first game of the doubleheader on Saturday is scheduled for 12 p.m. at Buc Field.