GAME NOTES: Delta State University vs Harding (3.5.14) & Christian Brothers (3.8-9.14)
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CLEVELAND, Miss. - Delta State University (7-5, 6-3 GSC) returns home after a three-game Gulf South Conference series against Valdosta State University, where the Statesmen took 2-of-3 in Valdosta, Ga. Saturday's home doubleheader is set for 12 p.m. at Ferriss Field followed by a single game Sunday at 12 p.m. DSU and CBU are meeting for the 91st time on the diamond with the Statesmen leading the all-time series standings 79-11. DSU has won 33 consecutive games in the series, with the last loss coming in the 2002 season.

STATESMEN GAME DAY INFORMATION
Series Date/Location:	March 5, 2014 | Ferriss Field March 8-9, 2014 | Ferriss Field
Game Time:	Wednesday 3 p.m. Saturday DH 12 p.m. | Sunday 2 p.m.
Radio:	Unavailable this week
Rankings:	Delta State (NR - NBCWA Top 25) Harding (NR- NBCWA Top 25) Christian Brothers (NR - NCBWA Top 25)
Series History:	HU: 40th meeting | DSU leads series 32-7 CBU: 91st meeting | DSU leads series 79-1
Live Audio	Unavailable this week
Live Stats:	DSU Live Stats

The No. 22 Statesmen are coming off a series victory over the Valdosta State University last weekend in GSC play. DSU defeated VSU 8-3 in game one and 16-3 in game three, but fell 4-3 in game two. CBU was swept by No. 2 University of West Florida (10-2, 5-0 GSC).

Senior RHP's Michael Manley and Ricky Winters each earned victories on the road against Valdosta State. Manley (2-0) went the complete game while striking out two batters and scattered just nine hits in a 8-3 DSU win in game one. Winters (3-0) kept the Blazers offense guessing, going 7.0 innings and giving up nine hits and striking out four batters as DSU won the series finale 16-3.

Brent Langston, a senior first basemen from Southaven, Miss., is leading the Statesmen with a .382 batting average and a .532 slugging percentage this season. For his efforts last week at Valdosta State, Langston was named GSC Player of the Week - the second consecutive week for DSU after Dex Herrington was honored last week.

Senior catcher Carlos Leal has five walks and leads the team with 11 RBI.

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).

Coach Mike Kinnison is in his 18th season as head coach of the Statesmen. Since 1997, Kinnison has accomplished an unbelievable career record of 754-232-2 (.763). DSU is nearly unbeatable at Ferriss Field, where the Statesmen are 382-73 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.