CLEVELAND, Miss. - Delta State University (0-0, 0-0 GSC) opens the lid on the 2016 season, as the Statesmen welcome the Bisons (1-2, 0-0 GAC) of Harding University for a three-game series at Harvey Stadium-Ferriss Field. Saturday's doubleheader is slated for a noon start, while Sunday's series finale is scheduled for 1 p.m.

The Statesmen and Bisons are meeting for the 42nd time in the series. Delta State leads the all-time standings 34-7, including a 5-2 victory on Feb. 16, 2014 last season. The two schools have not played a regular season three-game series since 2011, as DSU took 2-of-3 in Searcy, Ark., at Jerry Moore Field.

Delta State enters the season unranked Collegiate Baseball Newspaper's annual NCAA Division II Baseball Poll for the first time in the program's storied history. The Statesmen appeared in every CBN Preseason Poll from 1998 to 2015.

The dream of a new stadium at DSU was finally realized on October 3, 2015, as Delta State officially dedicated Tim & Nancy Harvey Stadium at Ferriss Field. Thanks to a charitable donation by the former All-American and his wife, Delta State built an all-brick, chair-back structure that features a new pressbox, entry ways and some of the best views in the Gulf South Conference. DSU is scheduled to play 31 games in Harvey Stadium's inaugural campaign.

STATESMEN HOST BISONS TO OPEN CAMPAIGN
The Statesmen and Bisons are meeting for the 42nd time in the series. Delta State leads the all-time standings 34-7, including 5-2 victory on Feb. 16, 2014 last season. In fact, DSU and HU have met just three times in the last four seasons, with the Statesmen owning a 2-1 mark in those games.  

The two schools have not played a regular season three-game series since 2011, as DSU took 2-of-3 in Searcy, Ark., at Moore Field.

FEBRUARY FILLED WITH BASEBALL AT HARVEY STADIUM
As Delta State Baseball begins a new era at Tim and Nancy Harvey Stadium at Ferriss Field, Statesman fans will have plenty of opportunities to see their favorite team at home this season. The 2016 schedule features 31 home games, including four straight weekend series at home to open February.

Harding, Palm Beach Atlantic, No. 8 West Alabama and Lee will also travel to Cleveland in the opening month of the season.

BIG BAT RETURNS TO LINEUP IN 2016
Will Robertson, who missed all of last season with an elbow injury, returns to the lineup in 2016. The Falkner, Miss., native was named ABCA/Rawlings All South Region First-Team, GSC All-Tournament Team and All-GSC Second-Team after leading the league in hits with 62 and batting average (.388).

SWINEY & CUMMINS RETURN TO ANCHOR OUTFIELD
Junior right-fielder Jacob Swiney and senior center-fielder Brandon Cummins return to anchor the Statesman outfield after turning in outstanding performances a year ago.

Swiney, an All-GSC First Team selection as a sophomore, finished last season third in the GSC with .396 average, while collecting 55 hits in 139 at-bats. The Biloxi, Miss., native scored 32 runs, slapped 12 doubles and three home runs while driving in 35 last year.

Cummins, a Drew, Miss., native, hit .360 last season with 11 doubles, five triples, three home runs and 30 RBIs. He led the Statesmen with 63 hits in 175 at-bats. His triples were tied for second in the GSC while his 63 hits were 10th.  

PRODUCTION RETURNING AT KEY POSITIONS
Delta State's lineup features six returning starters and quality production at several key positions. Ethan Gill (3B), who smashed a team-leading 10 home runs last year, is coming off a campaign that saw him hit .325 with 50 hits, 14 doubles and a team-best 51 RBIs. The Pontotoc, Miss., native finished the year ranked fourth in RBIs and fifth in home runs in the GSC.

Second baseman Trent Giambrone, a senior from Metaire, La., batted .294 with seven doubles, three home runs and 22 RBIs in 41 games last year. First baseman Colton Welch, a senior from Malvern, Ark., was second on the team with six home runs, while batting .286 with nine doubles and 29 RBIs.

Catchers Ben Pickard and Matt Barrett split time behind the dish last year, but both turned in solid numbers at the plate. Pickard, a senior from Biloxi, Miss., hit .268 with 11 doubles, five home runs and 40 RBIs in 43 starts. Barrett, a senior from Nashville, Tenn., batted .327 with six doubles, five home runs and 22 RBIs in 25 starts for the Statesmen.

BRUMFIELD LOOKING TO BUILD OFF BIG FINISH
Senior righthander Jake Brumfield is the top returning pitcher for the Statesmen, after winning his last three starts of the 2015 season. The Natchez, Miss., native closed the season 4-0 with a 5.81 ERA. In 10 appearances, including five starts, Brumfield tossed 31.0 innings while allowing 20 runs on 33 hits with 11 walks and 26 strikeouts.

BLOCKER & VINCENT OFFER 1-2 PUNCH OUT OF PEN
A year ago, senior reliever Trevor Blocker was chasing Matt Miller's school single-season ERA record, with Justin Vincent providing coach Kinnison a valuable lefty, who could start or relieve.

Blocker closed the season with a 2-0 record and a team-low 1.21 ERA. The Crystal Springs, Miss., native didn't break the record, but he did solidify himself as one of the league's top relievers. In 12 appearances, he threw 22.1 innings while allowing three earned runs on 18 hits.

Vincent, a native of Little Rock, Ark., also appeared in 12 games for the Statesmen, but the crafty lefthander made five starts, while finishing the season with a 3-2 record and a 5.68 ERA. In 31.2 innings, he allowed 23 runs on 40 hits with 18 walks and 22 K's.

FIVE STATESMEN TO OPEN SPRING WITH MLB CLUBS
Delta State Baseball will have five active players and two coaches 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., awaits assignment.

Former All-American catcher and two-time World Series champion Eli Whiteside will begin his second season as San Francisco's catching coach. The New Albany, Miss., native retired after a 13-year professional career with the Giants, Orioles, Cubs, Braves and Rangers last January. San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy wasted little time in adding the veteran to his staff.

Edwin Maysonet (Brewers) recently made the switch to the coaching ranks after hanging up his spikes. Milwaukee inked the slick-fielding shortstop to a coaching contract and assigned him to the Brevard Manatees (A).   

NEW NCAA BALL BRINGS BIGGER PRODUCTION AT PLATE
In 2012, a new standard for all bats used in NCAA baseball changed the way many teams play the game. Offensive production plummeted, with the home run almost becoming a thing of the past. As the Statesmen marched to a runner-up finish in the College World Series, Delta State managed just 26 home runs in 64 games. That number declined to 19 in 2013 and 16 in 2014.

In 2015, the NCAA introduced a new ball with lower seams, designed with the hopes of increasing offensive production in the collegiate game. It immediately reaped huge dividends for the Statesmen, who smashed 41 home runs in a mere 43 games. Time will tell the total impact the newly designed ball will have on America's pastime.

KINNISON ENTERS 20th SEASON AT DSU
Delta State University skipper Mike Kinnison begins his 20th season as head coach of the Statesmen. In his previous 19 seasons, the Benton, Miss., native is 810-258-3 while leading DSU to five GSC titles, five NCAA regional crowns, and the 2004 NCAA DII National Championship. His .758 winning percentage ranks second among all NCAA DII active head coaches.

NOTEWORTHY...
 - Delta State finished the 2015 season with a .309 team batting average, ranking fourth in the Gulf South Conference.

 - The 2015 schedule took a beating from Mother Nature, losing 18 games to weather-related cancellations.

 - Senior reliever Trevor Blocker has appeared in 32 games out of the bullpen for the Statesmen, posting a 4-0 career record.

 - Former Statesman pitcher Jonathan Moody has joined the Delta State coaching staff as a graduate assistant. The former All-GSC selection finished his two-year career 14-6 on the mound, including a 9-2 season as a junior in 2014.

 - The Statesmen hold the distinction of being the most successful baseball program in Gulf South Conference history. DSU owns an all-time record of 1,883-922-11 and a 543-199-1 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.

 - The Statesmen boast more professional players, drafted and free agents, than any other program in the Gulf South Conference.  Currently, five Statesmen are on active major or minor league rosters.