GAME NOTES: University of West Alabama at Delta State University (2.15-16.14)
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CLEVELAND, Miss. - Delta State University (1-2, 0-0 GSC) continues to face tough competition, as the home portion of the schedule opens up Saturday, Feb. 15 versus Gulf South Conference rival University of West Alabama (6-1, 0-0 GSC). The two long-time conference foes played three times last season, only twice in the regular season, with DSU going 3-0. The all-time record for DSU versus UWA is 82-35.
Delta State is coming off a 1-2 weekend at Palm Beach Atlantic in West Palm Beach, Fla. The Statesmen dropped a hard-fought 4-2 season opener before rallying for an 8-7 game two victory. The Sailfish took game three and the series with a 6-4 decision.
Dex Herrington had a big weekend for the Statesmen, batting .385 with five hits and three RBI.
Trevor Blocker picked up DSU's lone win in relief, as the sophomore made two appearances out of thre bullpen.
The Statesmen baseball team was picked to finish first for the second year in a row in the annual Gulf South Conference Preseason Coaches Poll. DSU picked up a trio of first and second place votes to tie West Florida with 44 points. DSU finished the 2013 regular season atop the GSC rankings.
Delta State was also heavily represented in the 2014 GSC Baseball Preseason Team, with five of the 19 players. On the list for DSU are;
Jordan Chovanec (CF),
Kasey Hinton (2B),
Carlos Leal (C),
Michael Manley (RHP), and
Taylor Stark (RHP).
The Statesmen open the season ranked in all three major NCAA Division II polls. DSU's highest preseason ranking is by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association at No. 6 followed by No. 8 in The Collegiate Baseball Newspaper poll. CBLineup.com has the Statesmen ranked No. 24 in its annual preseason prognostications.
Jordan Chovanec (CF) and
Michael Manley (RHP) were named Preseason All-Americans by the ABCA & NCBWA.
Playing the nation's toughest NCAA Division II region, it's way too early to predict who will represent the South in the NCAA Tournament. Delta State was picked second, behind defending national champion Tampa, in the NCBWA Preseason South Region Poll.
Coach
Mike Kinnison is in his 18th season as head coach of the Statesmen. Since 1997, Kinnison has accomplished an unbelievable career record of 747-227-2 (.765). DSU is nearly unbeatable at Ferriss Field, where the Statesmen are 378-71 under Kinnison's direction.
Delta State will be recognizing the 10th anniversary of its 2004 NCAA Division II National Championship later this spring. In 2004, the Statesmen defeated Grand Valley State, 12-8, at Patterson Field in Montgomery, Ala. for the title.
UP NEXT
Delta State is on the road for the remainder of the month of February. The Statesmen travel to Florence, Ala., to face GSC opponent North Alabama on February 22 (DH) and 23. February 26 will see DSU travel to Arkansas-Monticello before a three-game series at Valdosta State to open the month of March. The series will begin on March 1 with a doubleheader.
