GAME NOTES: Lee (5-5, 0-0 GSC) @ Delta State (7-4, 2-1 GSC)
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CLEVELAND, Miss. - Coming off a series victory over No. 7 West Alabama last weekend, the Statesmen (7-4, 2-1 GSC) of Delta State University welcome the Flames (5-5, 0-3 GSC) of Lee University to Harvey Stadium for a three-game Gulf South Conference series. Saturday's doubleheader is slated for 12 p.m., while Sunday's finale will begin at 2 p.m.

Delta State leads the relatively young series 4-2. The Statesmen took 2-of-3 from Lee last year at Olympic Field in Cleveland, Tenn. DSU won game one, 11-8, and game three, 11-2. LU won game two, 12-2.

In Lee's previous trip to Ferriss Field in 2014, DSU also took 2-of-3 in the series with wins in game one (9-0) and game three (11-1). LU won game two, 5-3.

The Flames are coming off a rough weekend in Huntsville, Ala., where the UAH Chargers swept the series. UAH won last Saturday's doubleheader 7-2 and 2-1, before rallying for a bottom of the ninth, walk-off 10-9 win in Sunday's series finale.

Lee is coached by Mark Brew, who is in his 10th season as the skipper of the Flames. Prior to joining the GSC in 2014, the Flames were an NAIA powerhouse on the diamond, averaging over 50 wins per year in Brew's seven seasons at that level. Lee has averaged 32 wins a season since joining NCAA Division II.

DELTA STATE TAKES SERIES FROM No.7 WEST ALABAMA
Rallying for a 13-6 victory in Sunday's series finale at Harvey Stadium, Delta State claimed the opening weekend of Gulf South Conference play from No. 7 West Alabama.

Trailing 6-3, the Statesmen scored 10 unanswered runs to take their second game of the series.  Delta State pounded out a season-high 19 hits, the most since a 26-hit output on April 1, 2015 in a 31-7 win over Mississippi Valley State.

Ethan Gill and Ben Pickard combined to go 7-for-10 from the plate with seven RBIs and five runs.

Junior LHP Justin Vincent (1-0) shut down the West Alabama bats in his 5.0 innings of work. The Benton, Ark., native gave up no runs on no hits, while striking out a career-high six batters to earn his first win of the season.

In game two, Tre Hobbs blanked the No. 7 Tigers over seven frames for a complete-game, shutout victory for Delta State in Game 2 on Saturday. He only allowed one walk on six hits and struck out a career-high nine batters. The win gives him a 3-0 record with a 0.47 ERA in 2016.

UWA won game one, 13-11.

DSU-SAU RESCHEDULED
Delta State's midweek clash at Southern Arkansas was rained out. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader at Harvey Stadium on March 16. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.

STATESMEN APPROACHING 1900 WINS
Delta State holds the distinction of being the most successful baseball program in Gulf South Conference history. DSU owns an all-time record of 1,890-926-11 and a 545-200-1 mark in league play. The Statesmen own 12 Gulf South Conference titles, including five under head coach Mike Kinnison. DSU has made 29 NCAA postseason appearances, claiming 11 regional championships and the 2004 NCAA Division II National Championship.

HOBBS & PICKARD EARN GSC WEEKLY HONORS
Delta State University senior catcher Ben Pickard and junior pitcher Tre Hobbs were named the Gulf South Conference Baseball Player and Pitcher of the Week on Tuesday.

Pickard went 8-for-16 (.500) from the plate with two home runs, a double and nine RBIs against No. 7 West Alabama. The Biloxi, Miss., native is hitting a stout .409 with three home runs, two doubles and 12 RBIs through 11 games this season.
 
Hobbs, a native of Greenville, Miss., blanked the Tigers over seven frames for a 1-0 complete-game shutout that helped the Statesmen earn a doubleheader split Saturday, Feb. 20. He allowed one walk on six hits and struck out a career-high nine batters and improved to 3-0 with a 0.47 ERA in 2016.     

ROBERTSON LEADING AT PLATE
Left-fielder Will Robertson, a 5-foot-10, 200-pound senior, was forced to sit out the 2015 season after hurting his elbow the previous summer. After working his way back through surgery, he's made an immediate impact, batting .432 with seven doubles, two home runs and 15 RBIs. He currently leads the team in batting average, hits, doubles, and home runs (T).

Entering this weekend's series with Lee, Robertson ranks 10th in batting, second in doubles, third in hits (19), fourth in RBIs and 10th in runs scored (12).
  
HOBBS OFF TO FAST START
Junior left-handed pitcher Tre Hobbs is off to a fast start for the Statesmen, posting a 3-0 record and a 0.47 ERA. In three starts, the Greenville, Miss., native has thrown 19.1 innings, allowing one earned run with three walks and 16 strikeouts.

Hobbs is tied with Brandon Goldsmith (UWG) and Will Myers (UAH) for the GSC's lead in victories with three. His 0.47 ERA ranks second.

BIG 4-5 PUNCH IN GILL & PICKARD
The Statesmen lineup has produced all year, especially the middle of the order. Senior third baseman Ethan Gill is batting .385 with six doubles, two home runs and a team-leading 17 RBIs. Ben Pickard, a four-year letterman and senior catcher, is batting a career-best .409 with two doubles, three home runs and 12 RBIs.

SETTING THE TABLE
Senior center-fielder and lead-off man Brandon Cummins continues to be one of the best table setters in the GSC. In 11 games, the Drew, Miss., native is batting .341 with 12 runs scored and five RBIs. He currently ranks 10th in the GSC in runs scored.

COMING THROUGH IN BIG SITUATIONS
DSU would not have claimed the series versus West Alabama without two huge pinch hit opportunities by Dakota Glore and Colton Welch. Glore put the Statesmen up for good in Sunday's 13-6 series finale with an RBI single in the fifth, while Welch's RBI-single to right proved to be the game winner, scoring Austin McClain, in Saturday's 1-0 shutout.

FIVE STATESMEN TO OPEN SPRING WITH MLB CLUBS
Delta State Baseball will have five active players and one coach open Spring Training this February with MLB clubs. Witt Haggard (Mets) and Drew Milligan (Royals), a pair of 2015 draftees, and Garrett Pickens (Blue Jays) and Carlos Leal (Brewers)will report to Minor League training, while Brent Leach (Dodgers), who recently signed a contract with L.A., is awaiting assignment.

NOTEABLES...

• Hit Streaks: A pair of Statesmen are riding hit streaks of at least four games, including Jacob Swiney (5), Dakota Glore (4) and Erick Santiago (4).
• Multiple RBI Games: Ethan Gill and Will Robertson lead the Statesmen with five multiple RBI games this season. Ben Pickard is third with four games.
• Justin Vincent (1-0) shut down the West Alabama bats in his 5.0 innings of work in his third outing of the year on Sunday. The Benton, Ark., native gave up no runs on no hits, while striking out a career-high six batters to earn his first win of 2016.
• Striking Out The Opposition: Senior RHP Jake Brumfield and junior LHP Tre Hobbs are tied for the team lead with 16 strikeouts. Junior LHP Dalton Moats is second with 15 Ks. 
• Erick Santiago is proving to be one of the toughest batters to strikeout in the GSC. In 11 games and 31 plate appearances, the Cayey, Puerto Rico native has struck out just once, which is tied for the GSC lead. He is batting .323 (10-for-31) with three RBIs and seven runs scored.
• Junior RHP Jacob Howell is tied for second in the GSC with two saves. The Orange, Texas, native has appeared in four games with an 0-0 record, 4.91 ERA and two saves.
• Dakota Glore is a perfect 4-for-4 (1.000) this season when attempting to advance runners on base. He is also 2-for-3 (.667) in pinch-hit opportunities. 
• Delta State is 4-1 in one-run games this season.
• Ethan Gill is proving to be Mr. Clutch, batting .611 (11-for-18) with runners in scoring position, including six two-out RBIs. 
• Mike Kinnison picked up his 400th win on Ferriss Field this past Sunday, Feb. 7 in a 5-4 come-from-behind victory over Harding. In his 19-plus seasons at the helm of the Statesmen, Kinnison is 400-77 (.839) on Ferriss Field at Harvey Stadium. 
• The Statesmen hold the distinction of being the most successful baseball program in Gulf South Conference history. DSU owns an all-time record of 1,890-926-11 and a 545-200-1 mark in league play. Delta State owns 12 Gulf South Conference titles, including five under head coach Mike Kinnison.
• The Statesmen have made 29 NCAA postseason appearances, claiming 11 regional championships and the 2004 NCAA Division II National Championship.
• Former Statesman head coach Dave "Boo" Ferriss, a member of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame, was a standout pitcher for Mississippi State and the Red Sox. His injury-shortened professional career included the 1945 American League Rookie of the Year Award, three 20-win seasons, and a career record of 65-30. He still holds a share of the MLB record for consecutive victories with 13.