TAMPA, Fla. – Cody McGill scattered six hits and struck out a career-high seven batters to lead Delta State University (44-10-1) to a 7-2 victory over Valdosta State University (34-18) in an elimination game Saturday, May 18 at the NCAA South Region Tournament.  DSU will face West Florida at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT in the Loser's Bracket final for a shot to play Tampa in Sunday's championship round.

A one-out single by Ryan McClellan to right field jumpstarted the Blazers in the top of the first.  After McClellan stole second, Jake Fields' RBI single to center put VSU up 1-0.  DSU starter Cody McGll quelled the threat by getting Ryan McMillan to groundout to first end the first inning. 

The Statesmen countered in the bottom of the first with two runs after loading the bases with an RBI single to right by Ben Kingsley and a bases loaded walk to Brent Langston.  VSU's Jeremy Holcomb worked out of the jam by retiring Michael Vinson, Kasey Hinton and Ben Pickard in order. 

Leading 2-1 heading into the bottom of the second, DSU's Josh Crowdus led off the frame with a single to center.  Jordan Chovanec followed with a double over the right fielder's head.  Crowdus came in to score as VSU made an attempt to tag Chovanec at second.  After Kidd grounded out to second, Aldridge delivered an RBI infield single to make it 4-1 after two innings.

McGill had to work out of sticky situation in the top of the third after VSU loaded the bases with two outs.  As the Blazers' Fields, McMillan, and Cooper Lemonds stood on base, the crafty right-hander from O'Fallon, Mo., coaxed a groundout to second by Michael Gouge.

With one out in the bottom of the fourth, back-to-back singles by Chovanec and Kidd set the Statesmen up for their fifth run of the game.  With runner's on the corners, Kidd swiped second and on the next pitch, Aldridge collected his second RBI of the game with a sac-fly to center, putting DSU up 5-1 after four.

In the bottom of the fifth, true freshman catcher Ben Pickard, who made his first career postseason start, slapped a two-out RBI single to left , plating Michael Vinson, who walked and stole second, for a 6-1 Statesmen lead.

The Blazers loaded the bases again in the top of the sixth with no one out, but like the second inning, McGill retired three straight Blazers including back-to-back strikeouts to end the threat and preserve the 6-1 DSU lead. 

DSU kept the pressure on VSU in the bottom of the sixth, as Chovanec scored his fourth run of the game on Aldridge's sac-fly RBI to right.  Chovanec led off the inning with a double and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Kidd. 

The Blazers finally got to McGill in the top of the seventh, as Fields' slapped his second RBI single to right to cut the DSU lead to 7-2.  McMillan followed with a single to put runners at first and second with one out.  With a big inning looming for the Blazers, McGill forced VSU's Lemonds to ground into a double play to end the inning.

After a scoreless eighth inning, McGill slammed the door on the complete game victory by retiring Hayman on a long flyout and a sweet double play to end the game 7-2.

McGill (1-0) worked all nine innings, allowing two runs on six hits with a career-high seven strikeouts.  Holcomb (6-5) took the loss for VSU after giving up seven earned runs on 10 hits.

Chovanec and Kidd finished the game with three hits each, while Aldridge delivered three RBIs. 

Fields' paced VSU at the plate with a 3-for-5 performance.

The University of West Florida, who fell to Tampa 15-11 earlier in the day, awaits the Statesmen at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT.  The game will be broadcast on the Statesmen Sports Network starting 15 minutes prior to first pitch.  Matt Jones will have the call.