Delta State Tournament Game Notes | Tournament Information 

CLEVELAND, Miss. -- No. 14/23 and fourth seeded Delta State University (38-15) will open the NCAA South Region Baseball Tournament in Tampa, Fla., against fifth seed Lynn University (33-20) on Thursday at 10 a.m. (CDT) at the University Tampa Baseball Complex in Tampa, Fla.  

NCAA Tidbits: The Statesmen are making their 30th NCAA postseason appearance. This will be DSU's fourth trip in five years to Tampa for the NCAA South Regional Tournament. Delta State owns 11 regional titles, including five under Head Coach Mike Kinnison. The Green-and-White defeated Stillman College (5-2,10-7) twice on final day to claim the 2012 regional crown. The Statesmen went on to finish runner-up in the NCAA Division II National Championship in Carey, N.C. Delta State owns a 61-40 all-time record in NCAA postseason play and a 9-7 mark in the NCAA South Regional.  The Statesmen are 27-19 in the NCAA Division II World Series. 

vs. The Tournament Field: The Statesmen are 54-42 all-time and 5-5 in NCAA Tournament play against teams in this year's NCAA South Region Tournament field. Field Breakdown (Overall/NCAA): Lynn: 2-1-1 / 0-0 |  Tampa: 5-3 / 3-1 | West Florida: 30-28 / 1-4 | Nova Southeastern: 6-3 / 1-0 | West Georgia: 21-7 / 0-0 | Claflin: 0-0 / 0-0

Getting Offensive: The Statesmen lead the GSC in eight offensive categories: batting average (.352/7th NCAA), hits (617/5th NCAA), slugging percentage (.528/14th NCAA), doubles (124/7th NCAA), doubles per game (2.34/16th NCAA), RBIs (387), total bases (925), and on base percentage (.433/8th NCAA). The Statesmen are second in the GSC in runs (407/24th NCAA), runs per game (7.7/39th NCAA), home runs (52/40th NCAA) and third in triples (14/70th NCAA).  

Robertson Named Ferriss Trophy Finalist: Will Robertson was named a finalist for the annual CSpire Ferriss Trophy on Monday along with Dakota Hudson (P/Mississippi St.), Reid Humphreys (OF/Mississippi St.),  Jake Mangum (OF/Mississippi St.), J.B. Woodman (OF/Ole Miss). The Ferriss Trophy is awarded to the top collegiate baseball player in Mississippi and is named for former Statesmen Head Coach and Boston Red Sox great Dave "Boo" Ferriss. 

FIVE STATESMEN EARN GSC HONORS: Junior Tre Hobbs was named the Gulf South Conference Pitcher of the Year, while four other Statesmen earned All-GSC honors, as voted on by the league coaches. Hobbs, outfielder Will Robertson and second baseman Trent Giambrone garnered All-GSC First-Team honors. Pitcher Dalton Moats and third baseman Ethan Gill were selected to the second-team.

GIAMBRONE NAMED GSC TOURNEY MOP: Trent Giambrone was voted the GSC Tournament Most Oustanding Player while Justin Vincent (P), Erick Santiago (SS), and Ben Pickard (C/DH) were earned GSC All-Tournament honors. Giambrone hit .658 (13-for-20) with a double, a home run and six RBIs in four GSC Tournament games. Santiago hit .500 (8-for-16) with a double and two runs scored while fielding 1.000 in 30 chances. Pickard hit .412 (7-of-17) with two RBIs.  Vincent helped the Statesmen reach the GSC title game, allowing one run on six hits with three strikeouts in a complete game win over West Georgia (5.9.16).

DANGER WILL ROBERTSON:  Will Robertson leads the GSC in batting average (.426/29th NCAA), doubles (27/3rd NCAA), hits (87/10th NCAA), and RBIs (71/6th NCAA). Robertson also ranks second in the GSC in total bases (138/212st NCAA), slugging percentage (.676/60th NCAA) and on base percentage (.492). Robertson enters the NCAA South Region Tournament tied for sixth on the DSU single season batting average with Josh Gordon (2010) and Casey Myrick (1998) and his .409 career average is on pace to break Haynes' career average record (.405). His 27 doubles is first on the DSU single season doubles list, breaking the old mark of 25 held by current DSU Head Coach Mike Kinnison (1978), Dee Haynes (1999), and Edwin Maysonet (2003). His 69 RBIs is 10th on the DSU single season RBIs list.  

DOUBLE THE ACTION: Trent Giambrone's 21 doubles are third in the GSC (14th NCAA). The Metairie, La., native is tied for sixth with Rickey Noland (2007), Clay Sartain (2007), Craig Newton (2004) and Bert Pickard (2004) on the DSU season doubles list. Ethan Gill's 17 doubles are 12th in the GSC. The Statesmen enter the NCAA Tournament with a GSC best 115 doubles (5th NCAA) and 2.35 doubles per game (19th NCAA).

DOUBLE DIGIT HITS: Delta State has recorded double digit hits in 34-of-53 games and eight of its last 10 games. The Statesmen had double digit hits in 3-of-4 Gulf South Conference Tournament games. 

SITTIN'EM DOWN: Delta State's pitching staff ranks second in the GSC with 381 strikeouts and lead the league with 122 strikeouts looking. The Statesmen are third in the GSC with a 2.72 strikeout-to-walk ratio (18th NCAA) and fourth in the GSC with 7.9 strikeouts per nine innings.  Dalton Moats is first in the conference and 17th nationally with 101 strikeouts and his 5.61 strikeout-to-walk ratio is second on the GSC (14th NCAA). Moats' 101 punch outs is tied with Stewart Cliburn (1977) and Jeremy McClain (1999) for sixth on the DSU single season strikeouts list.  The Kansas City, Mo., native is the first Statesmen to record 100-plus strikeouts since Josh Branstetter  recorded 104 in 2012. Moats'  10-3 record is third in the GSC and seventh nationally in victories.

MR. CONSISTENCY: Tre Hobbs recorded his 12th win against Mississippi College (5.1) to move into a tie for sixth on the DSU single season wins list. The Greenville, Miss., native is tied with five other Statesmen, most recently Justin Smith (2007).  The junior, lefty needs two complete games to move into a tie for third with Joe Hubal (1974), Steve Sandroni (1978), Tom Hostetler (1987) and Jeff Gregg (1994). Hobbs leads the NCAA in wins and also leads the GSC with eight complete games (2nd NCAA). Hobbs is 14th in the GSC with 65 strikeouts. Hobbs was named one of 47 semifinalists for the NCAA Division II Brett Tomko award on Thursday, May 5.

DIGGIN' FOR THREE: Center fielder Brandon Cummins' eight triples leads the GSC and ranks sixth nationally. The senior recorded two triples and a home run in game one of a doubleheader against Mississippi College (5.1). The eight triples tied Brett Donahoo (2005) and Edwin Maysonet (2002) for first on the DSU single season list. Cummins 13 career triples moved him into second all-time, passing  Jordan Chovanec (2011-14), Eric Patten (2002-2005), and  Heath Bailey (1994-96).   

NOTEWORTHY...

• Three Statesmen Receive Degrees: In a ceremony prior to the GSC Tournament, Delta State President William LaForge and Provost Dr. Charles McAdams awarded degrees to Statesmen Ben Pickard (biology), Ethan Gill (sports management)and Josh Paden (business and marketing) and on Wednesday, May 4.  Commencement took place on Saturday, May 7 when the Statesmen opened play in the GSC Tournament. 
• Strength Of Schedule: The Statesmen have the strongest strength of schedule in the GSC and the 30th strongest in NCAA Division II.  West Florida (35th), Valdosta State (49th), West Georgia (58th), Lee (65th), North Alabama (88th), Alabama Huntsville (95th) and West Alabama (116th) follow DSU.
• Quick Starts: The Statesmen have outscored opponents 72-16 in the first inning and 121-55 in the first two innings. DSU is 20-6 when scoring in the first inning and 30-7 when scoring first.4
• Multiple RBI Games: Will Robertson leads the team with 21 multi-RBI games followed by Trent Giambrone with 14 and Ben Pickard with 13. Ethan Gill and Jacob Swiney have 12 each. 
• Home Runs:  The Statesmen have launched 52 home runs, second in the GSC (40th NCAA).  Fourteen home runs have come with two outs, 13 have been in the sixth inning or later and 10 have been lead off home runs. DSU has three plus home runs in five games, including a season-high seven against Lee University (2.27) and four against Christian Brothers (4.2). DSU is 13-2 when hitting one home run.
• Toughest To Strikeout: Delta State hitters have struck out 205 times which is the fewest in the GSC. The Statesmen are striking out once in every 8.5 at bats. Will Robertson  (17.0 /per AB) is fourth in the GSC (32nd NCAA) among toughest hitters to strikeout. 
• The Statesmen hold the distinction of being the most successful baseball program in Gulf South Conference history. DSU owns an all-time record of 1,921-937-11 and a 566-209-1 mark in league play. Delta State owns 13 GSC titles, six under head coach Mike Kinnison.4
• The Statesmen have made 30 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.
• Five Statesmen Opened With MLB Clubs: Delta State Baseball had five active players and one coach that opened 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) have reported to Minor League spring training.