Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 CLEVELAND - The Delta State University Baseball team used a big offense, including two three-run home runs to defeat Shorter 8-1 and 13-5 in Saturday's doubleheader.

In game one, Carlos Leal hit a three-run home run to the left field porch to cap off a five run inning as the Statesmen (26-4-1, 11-2-1 GSC) ran away with game one 8-1.

Shorter (12-22, 7-8 GSC) opened up the day with a run in the top of the first, but Delta State immediately responded in the bottom half of the inning with Ben Kingsley's two-RBI double to the left center wall that gave the Statesmen the lead.

Statesmen starting pitcher Josh Branstetter settled in nicely and controled the game for his fifth win of the season. Branstetter made two big climbs in the all-time lists for the Statesmen on Saturday as well. The senior' complete game moved the Pensacola, Fla. native up three spots past Rusty Rayborn (283.1), Charles Jourdan (285), and Brad Teague (288) into fifth all time in the career innings pitched list for the Statesmen with 289.1 innings pitched.

Branstetter also had five strikeouts in the game and climbed three spots past David Townsend (215), Duane Case (215) and Justin Smith (216) to move into seventh on the all time strikeout list with 219.

Dex Herrington picked up an RBI single in his first start for the Statesmen, giving the Statesmen a 3-1 lead in the sixth inning with a single to left, scoring Brent Langston from second.

Scoring in the seventh inning of game one started with a RBI single from Michael Vinson, scoring Kasey Hinton. Vinson and Aldridge then executed a double steal from the corners, scoring Aldridge from third.

After another baserunner, Leal finished off the scoring with the home run, his first as a Statesmen.

In game two, Delta State again took the lead in the bottom of the first inning. Jordan Chovanec and Sam Kidd led off the inning with back-to-back singles. After a fielder's choice moved Chovanec over to third, Kingsley hit a sacrifice fly to score Chovanec and give the Statesmen a 1-0 lead.

In the third inning, Ben Kingsley hit the second three-run home run of the day for the Statesmen, expanding the lead. Kidd led off the inning with a hit by pitch and Tyler Aldridge singled to put runners on first and second. Kingsley hit his third home run of the year on a towering shot to left field.

Later in the inning, Josh Crowdus singled through the left side to score Leal, who reached base with a two out walk two batters earlier.

Following the momentum from the third inning, the Statesmen offense added eight more runs in the fourth. Vinson hit a bases loaded RBI single and Brent Langston followed with a two-RBI bases loaded single up the middle.

After a pitching change, Leal and Crowdus each had an RBI double for the fourth and fifth runs of the inning. Kidd and Aldridge each picked up an RBI as the Statesmen scored three more in the inning.

Game two starter Colton Mitchell picked up the win, improving to 4-1 on the season. In five innings, Mitchell gave up all five runs allowed, four earned, but had four strikeouts.

Travis Northern and Jordan Moore eached pitched an inning of relief to hold the lead for the Statesmen in game two.

Leal finished the day 3-for-4 at the plate with a hit by pitch and a stolen base. Leal scored three runs and had four RBIs.

Kingsley combined for three hits in seven at bats, but scored twice and had six RBIs.

Langston, Crowdus, and Vinson each had two RBIs ont he day.

The Statesmen and Hawks will wrap up the series Sunday with the third and final game scheduled for a 2 p.m. start at Ferriss Field.