Statesmen Baseball Game Notes - Games 30-33 (PDF)
CLEVELAND - The Delta State University Statesmen Baseball team will host a midweek game against the University of Arkansas at Monticello on Wednesday and a three-game series against Shorter this weekend at Ferriss Field.

Delta State and Arkansas-Monticello meet again
Delta State and the Boll Weevils will meet for the second time this season, as the Statesmen will take on the former GSC West Division school Wednesday, April 3 at 6:30 p.m. The Statesmen defeated UAM 9-5 at Monticello in February. The Statesmen hold a commanding 76-5 series record over the Boll Weevils.

Statesmen and Hawks to meet for first time
Delta State will host a three-game GSC series on the weekend against new transitioning conference member Shorter University. The series will kick off with a doubleheader set for April 6, starting at 3 p.m. and finish with a single game April 7, starting at 2 p.m. The three-game series will be the first matchup between the two schools in the history of the programs. Shorter University is in transition to becoming a full member of Division II after previously competing in the NAIA.

DSU gets two wins over UWA, loses one to rain
Delta State took two of three games from West Alabama this past weekend and saw the final game washed out, despite holding a 6-0 lead in the third inning. The two teams entered the weekend tied atop the Gulf South Conference standings.

The Statesmen defeated the Tigers 10-1 in game one. Delta State took an early lead in game one when Josh Crowdus hit an RBI single to the hole at second base, scoring Brent Langston from third. Langston added another run in the fourth, hitting a homerun to left field off of West Alabama starter Taylor Bratton. After scoring a pair of runs in the fifth and one in the seventh, the Statesmen sealed the victory with five runs in the eighth. Tyler Aldridge hit a two-out bases loaded double, scoring two runs in the big inning for Delta State. Michael Manley picked up the win for the Statesmen in game one. Manley improved to 4-0 on the year, giving up one unearned run on five hits in 7.2 innings pitched. Manley had eight strikeouts without a walk.

In game two, Statesmen starter Colton Mitchell stole the show, pitching a complete game shutout, striking out 13 West Alabama batters. The 13 strikeouts for Mitchell were a career high for the senior. Mitchell's previous high was eight. The senior improved to 3-1 on the season, allowing five hits and only one walk in the seven inning game. The Statesmen scored both runs in the fourth inning of game two. Langston singled to score Michael Vinson to put Delta State on the scoreboard. Later in the inning, Crowdus hit his second RBI single of the day to score Langston from second.

On the day, Crowdus was 4-for-6 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Langston finished 3-for-6, including the homerun, with a walk, three runs scored and two RBIs. Delta State pitching combined for 23 strikeouts in 16 innings, giving up only one walk and one unearned run.

The Statesmen and West Alabama were unable to complete game three Sunday afternoon as the game was called in the middle of the third inning with Delta State leading 6-0.

Aldridge makes history with 28-game streak
In his first at bat of the day on Friday, March 29, Tyler Aldridge hit a two out double against West Alabama to break the Statesmen hit streak record shared with Clay Smith, who hit in 27 consecutive games in 2005.

The record for Aldridge dated back to the first game of the season against Montevallo on February 8. Aldridge was unable to record a hit in game two of the doubleheader, stopping the streak at 28.

The senior has been a dominant force in the batter's box for the Statesmen and used the streak to propel to the top of several categories in the Gulf South Conference. The Steens, Miss., native leads the GSC in hits (49), batting average (.426) and on-base percentage (.496). The former East Mississippi CC transfer leads the Statesmen in multiple hit games (18), slugging percentage (.548), and assists, with 71 as a second and third basemen. Aldridge is also tied for the team lead in multiple RBI games with nine.

Vinson cracks record book; closing in on more
Michael Vinson currently sits in 10th place on the Statesmen all-time doubles list with 48. The senior collected his 48th double in a midweek game against Mississippi Valley State on March 19. The senior is closing in on several more top 10 lists for the Statesmen. The left fielder, who has played in 188 career games for the Green-and-White, is two games away from holding 10th all time on the games played list. Vinson, who has 229 career hits, is 14 shy of cracking the top 10 in hits. The Southaven, Miss. native is also close to reaching the all-time RBI list. Vinson currently sits at 157 RBIs for his career.

Statesmen continue to sit atop polls
Delta State continues to sit atop the Division II polls this week, making it the third straight week that the Statesmen have claimed the top spot in the major polls. This is the fourth week this season that the Statesmen have swept the major polls. Delta State has been either first or second in every poll since the season started after being preseason ranked first, second and third in the preseason polls. The Statesmen have been first in the College Baseball Lineup ranking the entire season after being ranked third in the preseason.

Mitchell fans career high in weekend start
Colton Mitchell returned to the starting rotation on the weekend for the Statesmen against West Alabama and responded in a big way, striking out  a career high 13 batters in a complete game shutout. In his last three appearances, including two starts, Mitchell has 15 strikeouts, while giving up only seven hits and three walks in 12.1 innings pitched. In that time, Mitchell is 2-0 and has not given up a run.

King of the mountain
Senior designated hitter Ben Kingsley has been a major force at the plate this season for the Green-and-White. Kingsley leads the team in RBIs this season with 30 and is tied for the team lead in multiple RBI games with nine. The Mantachie, Miss. native is second on the team with 41 hits, a .380 batting average and a .546 slugging percentage. Kingsley is also second on the team in multiple hit games with 13, including a four hit performance against Division I rival Mississippi Valley State. Kingsley hit two homeruns in the first game against North Alabama on March 9. In his second season with the Statesmen, Kingsley has seen his batting average and on-base percentage climb to .335 and .390, respectively, in 90 career games. Kingsley has 116 career hits with 76 runs scored and 77 RBIs. He is also 20-for-23 in stolen base attempts in his two seasons for the Statesmen.

Branstetter climbing charts despite rainy luck
Senior right-hander Josh Branstetter (4-1, 1.17 ERA) has propelled up the all-time charts for the Statesmen this season, despite being a part of three rain-shortened or cancelled games that have limited or taken away innings for the ace. Branstetter was most recently washed out of his start this past weekend against West Alabama.

Despite bad luck from mother nature, Branstetter joined the 200-career strikeout club with seven strikeouts versus North Alabama on Sunday, March 10. He became the 12th Statesmen pitcher to top the 200-strikeout plateau in a career. The Pensacola, Fla., native currently sits in 10th on the all-time list at 214, 30 strikeouts shy of the top five. Branstetter has also climbed into the top ten in career innings pitched, currently eighth at 280.1. Branstetter is currently 21-8 in his career at Delta State, two wins shy of the top 10 on the Statesmen's all-time list.

In 45 appearances, Branstetter has a 2.83 ERA in 280.1 innings pitched. He has allowed 124 runs, just 88 earned, on 258 hits with a mere 52 walks and 214 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 nine appearances, the Yazoo City, Miss., native is 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA and a save. In 11.2 innings pitched, Pickens has allowed zero runs on just four hits with four walks and 10 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 .114 batting average.

Early and often
The Statesmen have scored first in 19 of 29 games this season and are 18-0-1 in those games. Delta State's offense has produced 106 runs in the first four innings, while Statesmen pitching and defense has allowed only 99 runs in all nine innings this season. Delta State has scored 20+ runs in seven of the nine innings this season, with 18 runs in the seventh and seven runs in the ninth being the other two.

Winters making most of starting opportunities
Junior Ricky Winters has made a few appearances in the weekend starting rotation in recent weeks while also pitching from the bullpen when needed and the Bartlett, Tenn. native has made the most of the opportunity. Winters has gone 1-0 in two starts. In 10.1 innings pitched, Winters has recorded eight strikeouts to just one walk and limited opponents to five earned runs. On the season, Winters is 4-0 in nine appearances, with a 3.33 ERA.

Bullpen proving to be solid in relief efforts
The Statesmen bullpen has been solid this season for coach Mike Kinnison. In 29 games, DSU's relievers are 8-0 with a 3.84 ERA.  Garrett Pickens (2-0, 0.00 ERA), Travis Northern (0-0, 1.50 ERA) and Drew Milligan (1-0, 1.59 ERA) have all been lights out for DSU coming out of the bullpen. Taylor Stark (1-0, 5.40 ERA) leads the team with three saves and ten appearances. The bullpen has 73 strikeouts in 84.1 innings pitched, limiting batters to a .259 batting average.

Professional Statesmen
Three former Statesmen, Eli Whiteside (Round Rock, Rangers), Edwin Maysonet (Iowa, Cubs) and Dusty Hughes (Gwinnett, Braves), have all been placed in roles at the AAA level coming out of spring training. A pair of 2012 Statesmen seniors, Brandon Hardin and James Hudelson, will be reunited as the duo will start the season in Kannapolis, after being assigned to the Class A club out of the spring. Aaron Newcomb and Jon Carnahan have also been assigned to Class A ball.