Box Score BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – Top seeded Delta State University scored seven unanswered runs over the final four innings to erase an 2-0 deficit en route to a 7-2 win over fifth seeded Valdosta State University (25-17) in game eight of the 2014 Gulf South Conference Baseball Tournament Saturday, May 3 at UAB's Young Memorial.   

The Statesmen improved to 37-9 on the season, advancing to play the University of West Florida on Sunday at 4 p.m.  West Florida earned a 5-1 win over the University of Alabama at Huntsville earlier in the day.

Delta State starter Michael Manley (8-2) pitched a complete game, recording 10 strikeouts while allowing two runs on eight hits with a walk to earn the win.  Manley started for the fifth time in DSU's last 11 contests against the Blazers, going the distance in four of the five games

Valdosta State scored a run in the second and fourth innings, building a 2-0 lead. 

Matthew Fears opened the bottom of the second with a double and advanced to third on a Kevin Cruz fly out.  Fears crossed the plate when Jimmy Dowdell, who was 3-for-3 with an RBI, singled through the right side to give the Blazers a 1-0 lead.

Cruz delivered a two out single in the fourth and scored on Hunter Thompson's RBI single to extend the lead to 2-0.

The Statesmen rallied for two runs in the fifth and sixth innings to take a 4-2 lead.   Will Robertson singled to center field followed walks to Carlos Leal and Ben Pickard to load the bases with two outs. Dex Herrington came through with single to scored Leal and Robertson to tie the game, 2-2

Jonathan Andrews singled and Jordan Chovanec walked to open the sixth.  Robertson drove in Andrews to give the Statesmen its first lead of the night and Chovanec scored on a wild pitch.

Valdosta had the tying runs at second and third in the bottom of the seventh before Mike Reed grounded out to end the inning.

Delta State added insurance runs in the eighth and ninth innings to take a 7-2 lead. Will Robertson, who went 3-for-5 with three RBI and three runs scored,  drew a lead off walk and later scored on a Pickard RBI single in the eighth and then singled home Andrews and Kasey Hinton in the ninth.  

Dominic DeMasi (7-4) allowed four runs on six hits with eight walks and five strikeouts through five innings as the pitcher of record for the Blazers. Jarod Stanley walked two and gave up a run on two hits over the final four innings.