CLEVELAND, Miss. – In a month dominated by weather, the Delta State University baseball team looks to close February with a three-game series against Valdosta State University this weekend at Ferriss Field. Saturday's doubleheader is slated for noon, while Sunday's single game is planned for 1 p.m. The weekend series will air on the Statesmen Sports Network. Matt Jones and Keith Latham will have the call.
 
The Statesmen (2-5, 1-2 GSC) have not played a game since defeating the University of West Alabama, 4-3, at Tartt Field in Livingston, Alabama, on Feb. 15. DSU's subsequent games against the University of Arkansas-Monticello, a weekend series with the University of North Alabama and a midweek doubleheader at Ouachita Baptist University have all been lost to weather.
 
Delta State's seven games played are the fewest in a month during the Mike Kinnison era, but are not an anomaly this season across the Southeast.
 
VSU-DSU Series
The Statesmen and Blazers have enjoyed one of the more competitive rivalries among Gulf South Conference opponents, with VSU leading the all-time series 17-16. The regular season series resumed with the departure of the Arkansas-based schools to the Great American Conference.
 
In 2014, the Statesmen went 3-1 against the Blazers, including a series victory in Valdosta, Ga., and a 7-2 victory in the GSC Tournament in Birmingham, Alabama.
 
The Blazers held the edge in the series 4-3 in 2013, but the Statesmen eliminated VSU from the NCAA South Region Tournament with a pair of victories in Tampa, Fla., 4-2 and 7-2.
 
Overall, the two teams have met 11 times over the past two seasons, with DSU holding a slim 6-5 edge in the series.
 
Inside the Statesmen

• While Delta State sits with a 2-5 record, the Statesmen have suffered losses in three one-run games. In retrospect, DSU played just five one-run games in all of 2014.
• Delta State has yet to play a game at Ferriss Field this season. All seven of its games have been on the road, including the GSC opener at West Alabama. The Statesmen are 58-12 in the last three seasons at Ferriss Field.
• Senior left-handed pitcher Drew Milligan is off to a fast start for the Statesmen. The 6-foot-6 Olive Branch, Mississippi native has allowed one earned run in 13.1 innings this season. In two starts, Milligan is 0-0 with a 0.68 ERA, while allowing two runs on six hits with five walks and 15 strikeouts.
• Junior reliever Justin Vincent earned his first win at Arkansas-Monticello, as the Statesmen defeated the Boll Weevils 14-8 at Weevil Field in Monticello, Arkansas. The Benton, Arkansas native pitched 1.2 innings of relief with a walk and a pair of strikeouts to lead the Statesmen to the win.  
• Trent Giambrone, a junior second baseman/DH, currently leads the Statesmen with a .375 average. The Metairie, Louisiana native is 9-for-24 at the plate with a home run and four RBIs. He has also scored five runs on the year.
• Junior C/1B Ben Pickard is hitting .350 this year with a home run and seven RBIs. The Biloxi, Mississippi native went 5-for-6 at the plate with a home run and tied a career-high five RBIs to lead Delta State to a 14-8 victory over the University of Arkansas-Monticello on Feb. 11. The victory was the first of the season for DSU.
• Matt Barrett, a junior from Nashville, Tennessee, is off to a quick start at the plate. The catcher is hitting .333 for the Statesmen with three RBIs.
• Ethan Gill, a junior transfer from Itawamba CC, leads the Statesmen with eight RBIs this season. Gill is hitting .292 with three doubles.
• Brandon Cummins, a junior transfer from Mississippi Delta CC, has swiped three bases this season to lead the Statesmen. The former Cleveland High standout is 9-for-29 at the plate with five runs scored in seven starts in centerfield. 
• Statesman pitchers are holding the opposition to a .249 average this season.
• Delta State pitchers have recorded 67 strikeouts in 52.0 innings pitched this season, an average of 1.3 per inning.

 
Up Next
After this weekend's series with VSU, the Statesmen will hit the road on a four-game swing with stops at Mississippi Valley State and Christian Brothers University. DSU is scheduled to play the Delta Devils on Wednesday, March 4 at 2 p.m., while facing the Buccaneers over the weekend in Memphis, Tenn. Saturday's doubleheader is slated for a noon start, with Sunday's single game set to begin at 1 p.m.
 
All four games will be broadcast on the Statesmen Sports Network. Fred Sington will have the call.