SEARCY, Arkansas – Jacob Swiney, Colton Welch and Ben Pickard combined for six RBIs to lead Delta State University (14-12) to a 10-1 win over Harding University (20-18) on Tuesday at Jerry Moore Field.  The Statesmen used a five-run fifth inning to break open the game and take an 8-1 lead en route to the win. Cody Waddell gave up one run and scattered seven hits with three strikeouts in six innings on the mound for the Statesmen.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Delta State 10, Harding University 1
Records: Statesmen (14-12, 10-7 GSC), Bison (20-17, 11-7 GAC)
Location: Jerry Moore Field | Searcy, Arkansas,
Series: DSU leads the series 33-8 | 19-8 at Jerry Moore Field  
Video Highlights: GoStatesmen TV on YouTube
Get Social: @DSUStatesmen | @DSUScores | @DSUBaseball
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Statesmen scored three runs on four hits to take an early 3-0 lead. Brandon Cummins singled and scored on a Jacob Swiney one out double. Ethan Gill doubled home Swiney and Colton Welch's RBI single scored Gill.
• Zac Stewart tripled down the right field line and with one out Noah Chandler was hit by a pitch to start the bottom of the first. Davis Richardson's RBI single scored Stewart to cut the deficit to 3-1. DSU starter Cody Waddell got Zach Beasley to ground into a double play to end the inning.
• Delta State scored five runs on five hits and one took advantage of a Bison error to push the lead to 8-1 in the fifth. Erick Santiago walked and Cummins singled to start the frame. Santiago scored on a Swiney single. Cummins and Swiney moved up  to second and third on a wild pitch and Cummins scored on a Ben Pickard single.  Swiney would come home on a Welch sac-fly to left and a Landon Thibodeaux single to put runners at first and second. Trent Giambrone's RBI double scored Pickard and Matt Barrett drew a walk to load the bases.  Thibodeaux scored on a fielding error for the final run of the inning.
• The Statesmen added a run in the eighth and ninth to take a 10-1 lead.  Barrett struck out swinging and reached first with on a wild pitch and later scored on a Swiney ground out in the eighth.  In the ninth, Luke Stanley pinch ran for Welch, who was hit by a pitch, and advance to third on a Hunter Twitty double.  One batter later Stanley scored on a Juan Rivera ground out.
• All nine starters in the Statesmen batting order recorded hits with Cummins and Swiney each with two hits while Pickard, Welch and Swiney had two RBIs apiece.
• Waddell (2-0) allowed one run while scattering seven hits with three strikeouts in six innings of work to earn the win.
• Reed Roberts (1-1) was the pitcher of record for Harding, giving up five runs on six hits with a walk and three strikeouts.

 
STAT OF THE GAME

• The Statesmen went 5-for-13 (.385) with runners in scoring position and 15-for-24 (.625) in advancement opportunities

 
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE

• The Statesmen won their second straight game and their third straight non-conference game.
• Delta State has won its last two games and to 3-2 against Great American Conference schools this season.
• Statesmen Head Coach Mike Kinnison earned win number 799, one win away from 800 victories.
• Gill extended his reached base safely in 22 straight games and his hitting streak to nine games.
• Swiney has reached base safely in 19 straight contests and Barrett and Cummins have reached base safely in 11 and 10 consecutive games, respectively.

 
UP NEXT

• The Statesmen travel Christian Brothers University for a non-conference game on Wednesday at 3 p.m. in Memphis, Tennessee.