CLEVELAND, Mississippi – Ethan Gill belted a two-run home run to propel Delta State University (8-11, 7-6 GSC) to a 2-1 win over Gulf South Conference leader West Georgia (21-9, 14-6 GSC) in game one of a doubleheader on Saturday. The Statesmen rally from a 3-1 deficit fell short as the Wolves claimed a 3-2 win in the nightcap.
INSIDE THE MATCHUPGame 1 Final: Delta State 2, West Georgia 1
Game 2 Final: West Georgia 3, Delta State 2
Records: Statesmen (8-11, 7-6 GSC), Wolves (21-9, 14-6 GSC)
Location: Dave "Boo" Ferriss Field | Cleveland, Mississippi
Series: DSU leads the series 16-5
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@DSUBaseball HOW IT HAPPENED GAME 1- Garrett Hayes doubled to centerfield to start the seventh and moved to third on a Payton Mann sac-bunt. After a one-out walk, Hayes scored on an Artemis Kadkhodiaian single. Jonathan Andrews started an inning-ending double play on a well hit ball up the middle that ended the Wolves' threat.
- The Statesmen put runners in scoring position in the third, fifth and seventh innings but could not score.
- Ben Pickard was hit by a pitch to lead off the ninth and Dalton Skelton came on to pinch run for Pickard. Ethan Gill belted a 1-2 pitch to left centerfield to give the Statesmen the win.
- Nick Goza picked up the win in relief of starter Drew Milligan to improve to 2-4. Goza pitched a scoreless ninth to put set up the Statesmen ninth inning. Milligan struck out seven batters and scattered five hits while allowing one run and a walk for his second straight no decision.
- Jamie Sexton (5-2) gave up two runs on seven hits with a walk and six strikeouts to suffer the loss for West Georgia.
- Brandon Cummins, Jacob Swiney, Pickard, Colton Welch, Trent Giambrone and Matt Barrett collected hits for the Statesmen.
STAT OF GAME 1- Six double plays, three by each team, were turned in the game.
HOW IT HAPPENED GAME 2- The Statesmen got on the scoreboard first in the second inning. Pickard was hit by a pitch and Landon Thibodeaux delivered a two-out RBI double to give DSU a 1-0 lead.
- West Georgia plated three runs in the fourth to make the score 3-1. Rogers led off with a double and scored on a Garrett Hayes double. Hayes and Kadkhodiaian later scored on a throwing error.
- Welch belted a solo home run to lead off the fourth to cut the lead to 3-2.
- Gill singled and Giambrone drew a one-out walk to put the tying and go ahead runs on base only to see a double play end the threat.
- Delta State put the tying run at third with one out in the ninth, but could not score. Andrews worked a one out walk bringing Skelton to pinch run. Skelton advanced to third on a failed pickoff attempt but was thrown out at third on a Cummins fly ball to shallow left centerfield to end the game.
- Swiney went 2-for-3 to the Statesmen at the plate. Thibodeaux, Cummins, Gill, and Welch to account for DSU six hits.
STAT OF GAME 2- The Statesmen left five runners on base, four in scoring position. Both teams combined for three double plays in game two.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE- Gill's two run round-tripper in the ninth marked the second straight GSC contest that the junior has hit two-run home runs in the ninth.
- The game one win was the ninth game for Delta State that was decided by one run and the second straight one-run victory. DSU is now 2-7 in one run contests.
- The game one win gave Statesmen skipper Mike Kinnison win number 793, seven away from 800 career victories. It was the first comeback victory when trailing after eight innings.
- There were nine double plays turned in the doubleheader, four by the Statesmen and five by the Wolves.
- West Georgia's game two win snapped the Statesmen's 11-game winning streak in the series.
UP NEXT- The Statesmen and West Georgia conclude the series on Sunday at 2 p.m. Matt Jones will have the call on the Statesmen Sports Network.
