TAMPA, Fla. – Delta State University could not muster the offense needed Saturday evening at the University of Tampa Baseball Field, as the Statesmen (44-11-1) were eliminated from the NCAA South Region Tournament 3-1 by the Argonauts (38-13) of the University of West Florida in the loser's bracket final.  UWF advances to face the University of Tampa at noon on Sunday, May 19 in the championship round.   

The Statesmen jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first, as Ben Kingsley delivered an RBI ground out to score Jordan Chovanec from third. 

UWF used the long ball in the bottom of the first, as Drew Pritchard and Kaleb Barlow smashed back-to-back home runs to put the Argonauts on top 2-1 after the first.

Brent Langston and Carlos Leal singled to start the second inning, but UWF starter Dayan Rodriquez retired the next three batters to end the Statesmen threat and preserve the 2-1 Argonauts lead.

After Colton Mitchell retired the side, DSU got singles by Kidd and Kingsley to put runners on first and second with one out.  Rodriquez proved equal to the task once again, as the right-hander retired Vinson on a fly-out to right and groundout by Leal to second.

The Argonauts struck for their third run of the game in the bottom of the fifth, as UWF strung together three hits in the frame, including an RBI single to center by Dustin Saulmon to increase the lead to 3-1.

DSU finally ended a stretch of 12-straight batters retired by Rodriquez with Kasey Kinton's infield single in the top of the seventh, but as he had done throughout the night, UWF's right-hander ended the threat after Hinton was caught stealing with a groundout to second by Crowdus.

The Statesmen tried to mount a rally in the top of the ninth after back-to-back singles by Kingsley and Vinson.  A failed bunt sacrifice by Langston did not move the runners over and put the Statesmen with their backs against the wall.  The game ended an a hot-shot to second that UWF's Barlow turned into a double play to quell the threat and seal the 3-1 victory.

Rodriquez (5-1) earned the complete game victory allowing just one run on eight hits with two strikeouts. 

Mitchell (6-3) took the loss for the Statesmen after surrendering three runs on six hits with six strikeouts.  Taylor Stark worked the final 1.1 innings of in relief with two strikeouts.

Kidd and Kinsgley finished the game with two hits each, while Vinson, Langston, Leal and Hinton collected one hit on the day. 

Pritchard was the lone Argonaut with a multiple-hit game, as the senior finished 2-for-4. 

DSU ended its season with a final record of 44-11-1 and the Statesmen will return to Cleveland on Sunday afternoon.  

The University of West Florida, who fell to Tampa 15-11 earlier in the day, advances to take on the Spartans in the championship round of the NCAA South Region Tournament on Sunday, May 19 at noon.