Box Score CARROLLTON, Ga. – The No. 6 ranked Delta State University Baseball team pounded out 19 hits en route to a 12-1 run rule victory over the University of West Georgia (27-24) in the semifinals of the Gulf South Conference Baseball Tournament Thursday, May 9 at Cole Field.  The Statesmen (42-8-1) will face Valdosta State University for the GSC title at 3:15 p.m. ET.  

The Wolves jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, as Shaquille Jackson scored from third on Evan Hester's fielder's choice groundout to third off Statesman starter Michael Manley.  Jackson singled to center to start the frame and moved into scoring position on a bunt sacrifice by Blake McLemore and a single to right from T.J. Eifert.

Delta State finally got to UWG starter Cody Skinner in the top of the third to take a 3-1 lead.  Tyler Aldridge delivered an RBI single to right that scored Josh Crowdus, who led off the inning with a single from third. 

After DSU loaded the bases, Brent Langston delivered a two-RBI cue shot off the end of the bat to left-center to score Jordan Chovanec and Tyler Aldridge. 

The Statesmen tacked on two additional runs in the top of the fourth and chased Skinner from the mound to take a 5-1 lead.  Kasey Hinton reached and advanced to second on a throwing error by McLemore to open the inning.  Chovanec followed with an infield single up the middle. 

After Chovanec swiped second, Hinton came in to score the first run of the inning on an RNI single to left by Sam Kidd.  Aldridge followed suit with an RBI single to left to plate Chovanec and make it a 5-1 DSU lead. 

Delta State kept the pressure on the Wolves in the top of the fifth with four runs for a 9-1 lead.  The Statesmen picked up an RBI by Chovanec.  Kidd collected his third hit and second RBI with a hot shot to center and Ben Kingsley plated the final two runs on a two-RBI single to left-center. 

After Manley's fourth-straight zero on the UWG scoreboard, Crowdus made it 10-1 Statesmen with an RBI single to right, scoring Carlos Leal from second, off UWG reliever Clint Beland.

Kingsley led off the top of the eighth with a double to right-center off Alex Allen, the fourth UWG reliever of the game.  A throwing error by Wolves right fielder John-Mark Rhodes moved Kingsley to third. 

After a walk to Langston, UWG head coach Skip Fite pulled Allen for Nolan Huber.  Leal quickly greeted Huber with an RBI single to right field that scored Kingsley from third.  A pinch-hit fielder's choice allowed Ricky Velez, who ran for Langston, to score from third and put the Statesmen up 12-1. 

Manley earned the complete game victory for the Statesmen and moved to 8-0 on the year.  The Raymond, Miss., native worked 8.0 innings and struck out three in the win. 

Skinner (4-6) took the loss for UWG.

The Statesmen will face Valdosta State in the GSC Baseball Tournament Championship to follow at Cole Field on the campus of the University of West Georgia.