Box Score TAMPA, Fla. – The University of West Florida (37-12) rallied for five unanswered runs to defeat the Delta State University (43-10-1) baseball team 5-1 in the second round of the NCAA South Region Tournament at the University of Tampa Baseball Field.  The loss pits DSU against Valdosta State for the seventh time in two weeks in an elimination game on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT.     

The Statesmen struck first in the top of the third for a 1-0 lead after an RBI single by Sam Kidd, scoring Josh Crowdus, who singled to right, from second. 

The Argonauts rallied with two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning with two outs to take a 2-1 lead over Delta State.  After retiring the first two batters in the inning, a walk to Drew Pritchard got the ball rolling for UWF.  Kaleb Barlow followed with a single to left. 

At this point, Statesman starter Josh Branstetter ran into a little trouble with back-to-back walks, including one with the bases loaded to Cliff Covington to tie the game at 1-1.  UWF shortstop Josh Allen put the Argonauts on top 2-1 with an RBI single to right.  Branstetter struck out Austin Southall with the bases loaded to end the threat.

A leadoff single by Kidd in the top of the eighth inning gave the Statesmen a chance to rally.  Tyler Aldridge sacrificed Kidd over to second, but UWF starter Drew Bryson coaxed a first-pitch flyout by Kingsley and hard greoundout to third ended the chance for the Statesmen.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Argonauts chased Branstetter from the mound on Southall's towering two-run home run to right-center that pushed the UWF lead to 4-1. 

The inning would not end there for the Argonauts, as back-to-back singles by Garrett Flynn and Michael Tomlinson put runners on the corner with no outs.  After a strikeout to Dustin Saulmon, Pritchard smashed a sac-fly to center to plate Flynn for the 5-1.  DSU right fielder Kidd ended the inning for the Statesmen and reliever Rickey Winters on a diving catch to rob Max St. Hilare of a hit and RBIs. 

In the top of the ninth, Bryson struck out Vinson to open the inning and retired Hinton and Leal on back-to-back pop-ups to left to preserve the 5-1 win.

Bryson (7-1) earned the win after tossing the complete game with a postseason-high 10 strikeouts.  The Cullman, Ala., native scattered six hits and allowed just one earned run in the victory.

Branstetter (9-3) took the loss after working 7.0 innings and allowing five earned runs on 10 hits.  The Pensacola, Fla., native walked three and struck out eight in the loss. 

Rickey Winters worked one inning while giving up one hit and a walk. 

Allen led the Argonauts at the plate with a 3-for-3 performance, including what proved to be the game-winning RBI single in the fifth.

Crowdus and Kidd led DSU with two hits each.

UWF advances to play Tampa at 11 a.m. ET/10 a.m. CT in the winner's bracket final.  The Statesmen will face Valdosta State in an elimination game on Saturday, May 18 at 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT at the University of Tampa Baseball Field.  The game will be broadcast on the Statesmen Sports Network starting 15 minutes prior to first pitch.  Matt Jones will have the call.