Box Score

FLORENCE, Ala. – Ricky Winters tossed seven solid innings and Dex Herrington went 4-for-5 at the plate to lead No. 16 Delta State University to a 10-1 victory over the University of North Alabama on Sunday, Feb. 23 at Mike Lane Field.  The Statesmen, who claimed their second straight series, improved to 5-4 on the year and 4-2 in Gulf South Conference play, while the Lions slipped to 4-9 and 1-5 in league action.

Back-to-back two-RBI singles by Carlos Leal and Hunter Twitty jumpstarted the first inning for the Statesmen and gave Delta State the early 4-0 lead on North Alabama.  The two-out rally came Dex Herrington's bunt single, a walk to Ricky Velez and a fielder's choice by Brent Langston off UNA starter Brantley Claunch.

The Lions struck for a run in the bottom of the first, as Josh Carpenter, who singled off the glove of Langston, came around to score on Dylan Boston's RBI single to left.

Delta State added a run in the top of the fourth to take a 5-1 lead.  The Statesmen once again used a two-out rally to tack on the run, as Landon Thidodeaux came in to score on a balk by Claunch. Thibodeaux singled to right-center and moved into scoring position at third after an error by UNA second baseman Carpenter.

Langston's two-out RBI single to down the left field line plated Herrington for his second run of the game and extended DSU's lead to 6-1 in the fifth.

UNA finally ended a stretch of 10 batters retired in a row by Winters in the bottom of the fifth, but couldn't claw across a run after Payton Thomas's single and a walk to Jake Ward.  Winters coaxed a pop out by Carpenter and a ground out to first to end the threat.

UNA brought Jacob Westerhouse out of the bullpen in the seventh and DSU promptly touched up the reliever three runs on three hits.  Hinton doubled to left with one out and came in to score on Herrington's RBI double to left-center. 

After coach Mike Keehn pulled Westerhouse for Austin Carpenter, Langston crushed a 1-1 fastball off the base of the wall for a two-RBI double, putting the Statesmen up 9-1 on the Lions in the top of the seventh.

An error by UNA's Boston in the top of the eighth off a rocket shot by Velez, allowed the Statesmen to extend their lead to 10-1 over the Lions as Chovanec scored on the play. 

Winters did not return for the eighth, as coach Mike Kinnison brought redshirt sophomore right-hander Trevor Blocker.  The Crystal Springs, Miss., native surrendered two hits in the inning, but zero runs to preserve the 10-1 DSU lead.

After a scoreless ninth for the Statesmen, closer Taylor Stark struck out the side to slam the door on the Lions and send DSU home with the 10-1 victory.

Winters (2-0) earned his second straight win after throwing 7.0 innings, allowing a lone run on four hits with a pair of walks and four strikeouts.  The Bartlett, Tenn., collected his 13th career victory as well.

Claunch (1-3) picked up the loss after giving up six runs on eight hits in 6.0 innings of work for the Lions.  He walked two and struck out one in the performance.

Herrington led DSU with a career-high four hits in five at-bats with a three runs scored and an RBI in the win.  Langston was 2-for-5 with three RBIs, while Leal and Twitty finished the day with two RBIs each.

Chovanec extended his hit streak to nine games with a first innings single and swiped two bases.

Conkle was the lone Lion with a multi-hit outing, as the designated hitter finished 2-for-4.

The Statesmen continue their seven game road swing Wednesday, Feb. 26 at Arkansas-Monticello.  First pitch is set for 2 p.m. at Boll Weevil Field.  James Vallone will have the call on the Statesmen Sports Network starting at 1:45 p.m.