CLEVELAND, Miss. – Ryan Slaughter's RBI single in the top of the tenth inning propelled Valdosta State University (25-17, 16-12 GSC) to an 8-7 win over No. 15 Delta State University (32-14, 21-9 GSC) on Sunday at Harvey Stadium-Ferriss Field. 
           
GAME INFORMATION 
Score: Statesmen 8, Blazers 7 (10 innings)
Records: No. 15/12 Delta State (32-14, 20-9 GSC) | Valdosta State (25-16, 16-11 GSC)
Location/Stadium: Cleveland, Miss. | Harvey Stadium – Ferriss Field
Attendance/Start Time/Time of Game: 578 | 2:04 p.m./3:46
Weather: 78 degrees, Sunny, ESE 8 mph wind

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Statesmen struck quick in the bottom of the first to take a 2-0 lead. Trent Giambrone singled with one out and came home on Will Robertson's seventh home run of the season.
• DSU extended the lead to 3-0 in the fourth inning. Ben Pickard doubled down the left field line with one out before scoring on a Jacob Swiney single.
• Valdosta State used a four-run sixth to take a 4-3 lead. Marcus Sigmon hit a three-run home run to tie the game, and a Ryan Smith single put the Blazers ahead.
• The Statesmen loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth but managed to push only one run across. Colton Welch reached on an error and scored from third on a double play to tie the game 4-4
• Pickard homered to left field to give the Statesmen a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the seventh.
• Sigmon notched his second home run of the afternoon to lead off the eighth and tie the game 5-5.
• Colton Welch led off the eighth with a single. Austin McClain, who pinch ran for Welch, moved to second on a sac bunt by Santiago and to third on a wild pitch. Dakota Glore's sacrifice fly to left plated McClain to give the Statesmen a 6-5 lead.
• Tyler York hit a two-run home run with Dalton Duty on base to give the Blazers a 7-6 lead heading to the bottom of the ninth.
• A Pickard RBI double to centerfield tied the game at 7-7 in the bottom ninth to send the game to extra innings.
• Ryan Slaughter delivered an RBI single to right field in the top of the 10^th inning to put VSU ahead 8-7.
• The Statesmen loaded the bases in the bottom of the 10^th but Troy Massaro came in to record two strikeouts to close the game for his first save.
• Jacob Howell (0-3) worked 2.2 innings allowing two runs on four hits with five strikeouts as the pitcher of record for the Statesmen.
• Dustin Hersey (2-0) picked up the win for the Blazers, giving up one run on one hits with a strikeout in two innings of work.
• Pickard went 3-for-5 with a home run, a double and two RBIs, and Giambrone was 3-for-5 to lead the Statesmen at the plate.

 
BEYOND THE BOX SCORES

• The Statesmen have won 19 of their last 20 GSC series at home and had 11 hits, marking 29 games with double-digit hits this season.
• Delta State hit two home runs to move its season total to 47, second in the GSC.
• Robertson's two-run home run was his seventh of the season and his 20^th multi-RBI game.
• Giambrone recorded three hits for his 22^nd multi-hit game this season.
• Pickard's seventh-inning home run moved him into the team lead with nine and his two RBIs marked his 13^th multi-RBI outing.
• Santiago's two hits was his 14^th multi-hit game this season.
• The Statesmen improved to 24-6 when scoring first.
• Redshirt freshman Juwan Burney made the first start of his career at third base and his ninth start of the season. Burney's previous eight starts came as a designated hitter.

UP NEXT
Delta State closes out the 2016 regular season with a three-game GSC series against instate rival Mississippi College. Saturday's doubleheader begins at 2 p.m. with Sunday's single game slated 2 p.m.