Delta State Baseball Game Notes (Games 33-36 | Southern Arkansas | Union) PDF
CLEVELAND - Delta State will have four games this week, starting with a midweek test against Southern Arkansas Tuesday, followed by a three-game series against Union in Jackson, Tenn. this weekend.

Statesmen-Muleriders rivalry returns
The top-ranked Statesmen will welcome in longtime rival No. 16 Southern Arkansas to Ferriss Field for a midweek test that on Tuesday, April 9. Delta State took the first meeting between the two schools this season in Magnolia, winning 8-1.

The two teams have enjoyed a spirited rivalry over the last several decades with the Green-and-White owning a 58-27 series lead.

Delta State and Union set to renew series
It has been seven years since the Statesmen and Bulldogs have squared off on the diamond. That time will come to a close this weekend as Delta State travels to Jackson, Tenn. to face the transitioning Gulf South Conference member in a three game series.

The last time the two programs met came in 2006 when the Statesmen took a 7-3 victory in Jackson.

Mike Kinnison picked up his first of now 730 career wins against Union to open the season in 1997. The Statesmen are 8-4 against Union in the Kinnison era and 22-10 overall in the series.

700-Club, Kinnison Style
Mike Kinnison, a member of the MS Sports Hall of Fame, joined the 700-win club last season. With the Statesmen's regional championship victory over Stillman last season, Kinnison became the quickest coach in NCAA Division II history to reach 700 career wins, completing the feat in his 16th season. Kinnison is 730-220-2 all time and is the active leader in winning percentage (.768) of coahes with at least 10 years in Division II.

Statesmen continue to sit atop polls
Delta State continues to sit atop the Division II polls this week, making it the fourth straight week that the Statesmen have claimed the top spot in the major polls. This is the fifth 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 (nine weeks) after being ranked third in the preseason.

Manley named GSC player of the week
Michael Manley was named the Gulf South Conference player of the week for the third time this season after an impressive performance last week against Shorter. Manley pitched a complete game, striking out nine batters while giving up only one run on four hits. Manley has at least seven strikeouts in all six of his starts this season. The junior is in the top five of seven categories in the GSC, including leading the conference in opposing batting average (.182).

Vinson reaches top 10 in two more lists
Michael Vinson, who was already in 10th place on the Statesmen all-time doubles list with 48, added two more top-10 lists to his Statesmen career last weekend. The senior collected his 191st career game for the Green-and-White, taking over the 10th spot all time for DSU. The Southaven, Miss. native also collected his 160th RBI on Sunday to tie Jason Page for 10th in that list as well. Vinson, who has 231 career hits, is 12 shy of cracking the top 10 in hits. Vinson is also closing in on three more categories on the Statesmen all-time list.

Early and often
The Statesmen have scored first in 20 of 32 games this season and are 19-0-1 in those games. Delta State's offense has produced 122 runs in the first four innings, while Statesmen pitching and defense has allowed only 106 runs in all nine innings this season. Delta State has scored 20+ runs in eight of the nine innings this season, with the ninth inning being the only exception.

Leal hits first long ball as a Statesman
Junior catcher Carlos Leal hit his first home run for the Green-and-White last weekend against Shorter, hitting a three-run shot to right field. In 23 games played this season, Leal has hit .338, the fourth highest average on the team.

King of the mountain
Senior 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 37 and  multiple RBI games with 11. The Mantachie, Miss. native is second on the team with 46 hits and a .387 batting average. Kingsley hit a three-run home run against Shorter last week to help him climb into the GSC top five in slugging percentage (.580). Kingsley is also second on the team in multiple hit games with 15, including a four-hit performance and four three-hit games. Kingsley hit two home runs in the first game against North Alabama on March 9. In his second season with the Statesmen, Kingsley has improved his batting average and on-base percentage climb to .339 and .391, respectively, in 93 career games. Kingsley has 121 career hits, 78 runs and 84 RBIs.

Branstetter climbing charts despite rainy luck
Senior right-hander Josh Branstetter (5-1, 1.14 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.

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 13th Statesmen pitcher to top the 200-strikeout plateau in a career. The Pensacola, Fla., native climbed three spots in the strikeout charts this week and currently sits in 7th on the all-time list at 219, 25 strikeouts shy of the top five. Branstetter also climbed three spots in the top ten in career innings pitched and currently sits fifth with 289.1. Branstetter is currently 22-8 in his career at Delta State, one win shy of the top 10 on the Statesmen's all-time list.

In 46 appearances, with 41 starts, Branstetter has a 2.77 ERA in 289.1 innings pitched. He has allowed 125 runs, just 89 earned, on 264 hits with a mere 52 walks and 219 strikeouts.

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 is second in the GSC in hits (52), batting average (.423), and on-base percentage (.497). The former East Mississippi CC transfer leads the Statesmen in multiple hit games with 19 and is second on the team in multiple RBI games with nine. Aldridge is also tied for the team lead in stolen bases with 14.

Pickens dominant in return to hill
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. Pickens has limited batters to a .114 batting average.

Bullpen proving solid in relief
The Statesmen bullpen has been solid this season for coach Mike Kinnison. In 32 games, DSU's relievers are 8-0 with a 3.75 ERA.  Garrett Pickens (2-0, 0.00 ERA) and Ricky Winters (3-0, 2.57) have led the way out of the bullpen. Taylor Stark (1-0, 5.40 ERA) leads the team with three saves and ten appearances. The bullpen has 74 strikeouts in 86.1 innings pitched, limiting batters to a .257 batting average.

Statesmen in the pros
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. 2012 Senior Brandon Hardin has been assigned to Kannapolis, the class-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. Three other 2012 seniors (Aaron Newcomb, James Hudelson, and Jon Carnahan) are also in the lower levels of the minor league system.