Game Notes: Games 25-29 | MVSU, HU, UAH (PDF)
CLEVELAND - The No. 1 Delta State University Baseball team gets set for another 5-game week as the Statesmen take on Mississippi Valley State and Harding University for the second time this season, before traveling to Alabama-Huntsville for a clash between the top two teams in the GSC Standings.

Statesmen & MVSU meet for final time in 2013
The Mississippi Delta rivalry will have its final contest of 2013 as the Statesmen meet Mississippi Valley State for a midweek contest Tuesday night at Legion Field in Greenville, Miss. The teams will meet for the 94th time in series history, as the Statesmen hold a 78-15 record over the Delta Devils, including a 13-5 victory at Ferriss Field on Feb. 19. Coming into the season, the Statesmen and Delta Devils had split wins in three of the last four season, with DSU holding a 4-3 edge.

Delta State looks for revenge against Harding
The Statesmen will face a familiar foe Wednesday night as former GSC opponent Harding University comes to town. The Statesmen hold a commanding 31-7 lead over the Bison in the series history between the two schools, but will have revenge on their minds. The Bison snapped the Statesmen's 10-game win streak to start the season on Feb. 27, as Harding defeated Delta State 12-2 in seven innings.

DSU set to renew rivalry with UAH
The Statesmen and Alabama-Huntsville played seven times in 2012. The Statesmen took two of three at UAH in the regular season before falling to the Chargers early in the GSC and South Regional Championships. The Statesmen rebounded in the double-elimination tournament, knocking UAH out of both with late round victories. Delta State will travel back to Huntsville this season for a pivital conference series as the two schools sit atop the GSC Standings.

Branstetter making history
Senior right-hander Josh Branstetter (4-1, 1.25 ERA) joined the 200-career strikeout club with seven strikeouts versus North Alabama on Sunday, March 10. He becomes the 12th Statesmen pitcher to top the 200-strikeout plateau in a career. The Pensacola, Fla., native is 21-8 in his career at DSU with a 2.86 ERA. In 277.1 innings pitched, which ranks eighth in DSU history, Branstetter has allowed 124 runs, just 88 earned, on 256 hits with a mere 49 walks and 212 strikeouts. His 212 K's puts Branstetter in a tie for 10th all-time for the Statesmen. He earned his 20th career win with a complete-game, seven strikeout performance in DSU's 5-2 game one victory over No. 7 West Florida at Ferriss Field.

Delta State sweeps Christian Brothers
The Statesmen claimed their third-straight Gulf South Conference series last weekend, sweeping Christian Brothers University with wins on 14-2, 19-2, and 9-4. The series sweep for Delta State came with big offensive performances to total  42 runs in 23 innings. Ben Pickard hit a grand slam and Josh Branstetter pitched a complete game to propel the Statesmen to a 14-2 win in game one against Christian Brothers. All nine starters reached base safely in the game. Pickard's four RBIs on the grand slam led the team in game one but four other Statesmen had two RBIs in the game. Tyler Aldridge, who extended his hitting streak to 22 games in game one, had two RBIs, along with Brent Langston and Josh Crowdus. Branstetter improved to 4-1 on the season with eight strikeouts in seven innings for a complete game. The senior gave up five hits and did not allow a walk. In game two, Jordan Chovanec had four RBIs and Sam Kidd had three RBIs to lead the way as the Statesmen won 19-2. Ricky Winters improved to 4-0 on the year in his second start of the season. On Sunday, the Statesmen completed the sweep as Tyler Aldridge extended his hitting streak to 24 games. Aldridge, Chovanec, and Kingsley each had three hits on the day to lead the Statesmen's offensive performances. Chovanec scored three runs and Aldridge and Kingsley each had a pair of runs scored.

Kingsley flying around the bases
Senior designated hitter Ben Kingsley has been a major force at the plate for the Statesmen in his two seasons for the Green-and-White. The senior comes off of a 6-for-13 weekend against CBU where he stole two bases and scored five runs. The Mantachie, Miss. native leads DSU in 2013 with a .578 slugging percentage and 27 RBIs, while being tied for the lead with eight doubles and a pair of home runs. Kingsley is second on the team in average (.400). Through 24 games, Kingsley is 36-of-90 at the plate with eight doubles, a triple, two home runs and 23 runs scored. Kingsley collected his 100th career hit in style, a 375-foot home run to left-center in game one against North Alabama on Mar. 9. Kingsley sits at 111 hits as a Statesmen with 74 RBI and 74 runs scored.

Running past the opposition
The Statesmen have outscored the opposition 208-93 through the first 24 games of the 2013 season. In fact, Delta State ranks among the nation's leaders in runs per game, which currently sits at 8.67 per contest. The Statesmen out score their opponents in all innings but the seventh, including 26-4 in the second, 24-6 in the eighth and 42-11 in the fifth. The Statesmen are 12-0 when leading after the first inning, where DSU has outscored opponents 27-12.

Aldridge riding 24-game hitting streak
Senior second/third baseman Tyler Aldridge continues to find the base paths for the Statesmen. The Steens, Miss., native leads the team with a .433 average and .509 on base percentage. The former East Mississippi CC transfer is currently riding a 24-game hitting streak for the Statesmen, currently the second longest in school history behind Clay Smith (2003-05) who hit safely in 27 games. Aldridge also leads the team with 15 multi-hit games, and is tied with Ben Kingsley for multiple RBI games with eight.

Vinson joins 200-hit club; cracks record book
Michael Vinson collected his 200th career hit versus No. 16 Nova Southeastern on a 3-run home run in a DSU victory on Saturday, Feb. 16.  Vinson currently sits at 223 hits, inching closer to the top 10 all-time for the Statesmen. Vinson did put himself in the career record book with his 47th double in game one against Christian Brothers this past weekend. The senior sits in a tie for 10th on the all-time list.  The Southaven, Miss., native, who is on the verge of cracking into the top 10 in several additional DSU career categories, is a career .348 hitter with 223 hits in 640 at-bats. The All-American has scored 137 runs with 47 doubles, five triples, 11 home runs and 151 RBIs in his 183 game career at Delta State.

Hinton off to impressive start in first half
Junior second baseman/shortstop Kasey Hinton has been excellent at the plate through the first half of the season. Hinton is third on the team with a .358 average, with 24 hits in 67 at bats. Hinton has also drawn four walks and reached base via hit by pitches six times. The Meridian Community College transfer is currently riding a 15-game reached base streak, the second highest on the team this year, passing Michael Vinson's 13-game streak this past weekend. During the streak, Hinton is hitting .383 with a .463 on base percentage, along with four RBI and 11 runs scored.

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 eight appearances, the Yazoo City, Miss., native is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA and a save. In 8.2 innings pitched, Pickens has allowed zero runs on just three hits with three walks and five strikeouts. 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. Pickens has limited batters to a .115 batting average.

Chovanec back in the grove
Junior lead-off hitter Jordan Chovanec broke out in a big way this past week, seeing his average climb to .337 after going 10-for-17 (.588) at the plate in the last four games. Chovanec has scored nine runs, with five RBIs and four doubles in the stretch. He also had four walks and a hit by pitch, giving him a  .682 on base percentage over the four games.

Bullpen solid for Statesmen in relief
The Statesmen bullpen has been solid this season for coach Mike Kinnison. In 24 games, DSU's relievers are 7-0 with a 4.38 ERA in 39 appearances.  Garrett Pickens (1-0, 0.00 ERA), Drew Milligan (1-0, 1.59 ERA) and Travis Northern (0-0, 1.50 ERA) have all been lights out for DSU coming out of the bullpen. Taylor Stark (1-0, 7.56 ERA) leads the team with two saves and is tied with Pickens for appearances (8).

Professional Statesmen
The Statesmen boast more professional players, 68 drafted and free agent signees, than any other program in the Gulf South Conference. Currently, eight Statesmen are on active major or minor league rosters. DSU had three players taken in the 2012 MLB Draft, including: Brandon Hardin (10th/White Sox), Aaron Newcomb (19th/Angels) and James Hudelson (28th/White Sox). Jon Carnahan also signed a free agent contract with the Astros.

Statesmen rank No. 1 all time in wins in GSC history
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 1,800 victories. Since 1933, the Statesmen are 1,800-886-11. In Gulf South Conference play, the Statesmen have a 1,400-572 record for a .710 winning percentage.

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 entered the year with the best winning percentage among a 723-220-1 record.