Box Score

CLEVELAND, Miss. – Ricky Winters struck out six in his first start of the season to lead No. 6 Delta State University to a 5-2 victory over the University of West Alabama Sunday in the rubber game of the series at Ferriss Field.  The Statesmen improved to 3-3 on the year and 2-1 in Gulf South Conference play, while the Tigers slipped to 7-3 and 1-2 in league action.  

Adam Chamblee put the Tigers on up 1-0 with an RBI single to center off Ricky Winters.  Tyler Richburg, who reached on a fielder's choice, came around to score. 

Delta State erupted for five runs on four hits in the bottom of the first, as Ben Pickard and Juan Rivera both delivered two-RBI singles off UWA starter Fernando Gonzalez.  DSU's fifth run came off a bases loaded walk to Benji Sullivan, scoring Hunter Twitty from third.

After cruising through the next three innings, Winters got into trouble in the top of the fifth as West Alabama loaded the bases on a single by Joel Murphy, an error that placed Jocobby Robinson on base and a walk to Tyler Richburg.  With the lead on the line, Winters struck out Tanner Rainey swinging to end the threat and preserve the 5-1 advantage for the Statesmen.

The Statesmen threatened in the bottom of the fifth, as Dex Herrington walked and moved around to third, but DSU couldn't get the hit it needed off UWA reliever Caleb Derouen. 

In the sixth, Winters struck out Chamblee to open the inning, but a two out single to center by Jack Cockrum ended the day for the Statesman starter.  Casey Greene came on in relief and quickly got Luigi Mendez to strikeout to end the inning.

The Tigers scratched across a run in the top of the seventh to cut the DSU lead to 5-2.  After loading the bases, Mitch Holgate raced home to score on a wild pitch by Greene.  The right-hander settled back in and coaxed a groundout by Chamblee to strand two on base and end the frame.

Neither team managed to generate any offense in the eighth inning, as the Statesmen maintained their 5-2 lead. 

In the top of the ninth, Taylor Stark (2) retired the side in order to record his second save of the season.

Winters (1-0) made the most of his first start of the season, tossing 5.2 innings with six strikeouts and a lone walk.  The senior from Bartlett, Tenn., allowed just one run, which came in the first inning, on four hits to earn his first win of the year.

Greene tossed 2.1 innings out of the pen.  The junior from Olive Branch, Miss., allowed one run on two hits with a walk and a strikeout. 

Gonzalez (1-1) was saddled with his first loss of the year after giving up five runs on four hits in just one inning of work.  The Tigers used six pitchers in total, including 3.0 scoreless innings from Steven Glasgow.  

Pickard led the Statesmen at the plate with two hits in four at-bats, while scoring a run and driving in two. 

The Tigers finished the game with seven hits, but no UWA player had more than one. 

The Statesmen travel to Florence, Ala., for a three game series with the University of North Alabama.  Saturday's doubleheader is slated to begin at 1 p.m.  Games one and three will be broadcast on the Statesmen Sports Radio Network.  Matt Jones will have the call.