CLEVELAND, Miss. – Opening day of the 2016 baseball season went according to plan for Delta State University, as the Statesmen claimed a pair of wins over Harding University, 11-5 and 2-1, on Saturday, Feb. 6 at Harvey Stadium-Ferriss Field. The Statesmen not only opened a season, but also hosted their first games at the recently renovated Harvey Stadium. The $1.3 million project was completed earlier this month and features many new amenities.
GAME INFORMATION Game 1 Score: Statesmen 11, Bisons 5 |
Game 2 Score: Statesmen 2, Bisons 1
Records: Delta State (2-0), Harding (1-4)
Location/Stadium: Cleveland, Miss. | Harvey Stadium
Attendance/Time of Game: 881 | 2:14/2:15
Weather: 56 degrees, Sunny, W-NW 8 mph win
HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME 1)
- Jacob Swiney's groundout to second plated Brandon Cummins, who singled to open the inning, from third to put the Statesmen up 1-0 after the first inning.
- Harding's Blake Coward gave the Bisons their first lead of the series on a two-RBI single to left in the bottom of the fourth. Davis Richardson and Grant Guest scored on the hit.
- Colton Welch's three-run home run to left and Matt Barrett's RBI single scored four runs for the Statesmen to reclaim the lead 5-2 after four innings.
- Will Robertson (1) and Ethan Gill (1) smashed solo home runs in the bottom of the fifth to extend DSU's lead to 7-2. The home runs also forced Harding's starter Andrew Fiddler from the mound. Fiddler threw 4.1 innings, allowing seven runs on seven hits.
- Grant Guest's RBI single to right-center plated Harding's first run in the top of the sixth. Chris Taylor's two-run home run to left made it a two run game at the end of the frame, as DSU maintained the lead 7-5.
- In the bottom of the sixth, Robertson's two-RBI double off the wall in left followed by Swiney's RBI double to right put the Statesmen up 10-5.
- The Statesmen tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth, as Erick Santiago scored on a wild pitch to make it 11-5.
OF RECORD (GAME 1)
Win: Dalton Moats, DSU – 6.0 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 4 K, 1 BB
Loss: Andrew Fiddler, HU – 4.1 IP, 7 H, 7 R, 0 K, 0 BB
Save: None
TEAM LEADERS: DELTA STATE (GAME 1)
Hits: 2 – Robertson, Barrett, Welch
Runs: 2 – Three Statesmen
RBIs: 3 – Robertson, Welch
HRs: Welch (1), Robertson (1), Gill (1)
TEAM LEADERS: HARDING (GAME 1)
Hits: 2 - Guest (2-for-2)
Runs: 2 - Guest
RBIs: 2 – Taylor, Coward
HRs: Taylor (1)
HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME 2)
- Ethan Gill connected on his second home run of the day, a towering blast to left, which put the Statesmen up 2-0 after the first inning. Nick Morgan, who singled to open the inning, scored on the play.
- Zach Stewart's RBI single up the middle put the Bisons on the board and cut the DSU lead to one, 2-1, in the top of the third.
- There was no offense to be found for either team over the final four innings.
- DSU reliever Jacob Howell closed out the final inning and a third to seal the 2-1 victory for the Statesmen.
OF RECORD (GAME 2)
Win: Tre Hobbs, DSU – 5.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 6 K
Loss: Hunter Payne, HU – 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 6 K
Save: Jacob Howell, DSU – 1.1 IP, 1 BB, 1 K
TEAM LEADERS: DELTA STATE (GAME 2)
Hits: 1 – Five Statesmen
Runs: 1 – Morgan, Gill
RBIs: 2 – Gill
HRs: Gill (2)
TEAM LEADERS: HARDING (GAME 2)
Hits: 2 - Richardson
Runs: 1 - Taylor
RBIs: 1 – Stewart
HRs: None
BEYOND THE BOXSCORES- After a $1.3 million renovation, Delta State officially opened Tim and Nancy Harvey Stadium at Ferriss Field. The facility features all new seating, press box, dugouts and grandstand. Harvey, a former DSU All-American and teammate of head coach Mike Kinnison, gave the lead gift on the construction project.
- Dalton Moats worked 6.0 innings in his first start as a Statesman. The Kansas City, Mo., native allowed five runs on seven hits with a walk and four strikeouts.
- Will Robertson made a memorable return to the field, going 2-for-4 with a home run, double and three RBIs in game one. The senior from Falkner, Miss., missed the entire 2015 season due to an injury.
- DSU picked-off two Harding runners, one by Moats and one by Hobbs.
- Tre Hobbs, a junior transfer from Mississippi Delta CC, worked 5.2 innings in his first start for DSU. The Greenville, Miss., native allowed one run on five hits with six strikeouts.
UP NEXT- The Statesmen and Bisons will conclude their three-game series on Sunday, Feb. 7 at Harvey Stadium. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on the Statesmen Sports Network. Matt Jones will have the call starting at 12:45 p.m. with the DSU Alumni Association Dugout Report.