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CLEVELAND, Miss. No. 15 Delta State University (34-15, 23-10 GSC) opens play in the 2016 Gulf South Conference Baseball Tournament against fifth seed Alabama Huntsville at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 7 at Jim Spooner Field in Pensacola, Fla. 
 
Inside UAH Series: Delta State and UAH have met 58 times, including 13 times in the GSC Tournament. The Statesmen have won the last six meetings, including sweeping the regular season series (3.19-20) in Cleveland, Miss. The Statesmen are 8-5 against UAH in the GSC Tournament, capturing an  11-7 win (5.4.15) in an elimination game at the 2015 GSC Tournament in Livingston, Ala. 

DSU 32nd GSC Tournament Appearances: The Statesmen are making a GSC record 32nd appearance in the Gulf South Conference Tournament. DSU's 32 Tournament appearances are just tip the iceberg. The Statesmen are 72-45 all-time at the tournament and boast GSC Tournament records for wins (72), semifinals appearances (27), finals appearances (16), and championships (12). No other school has more than five titles. The GSC Tournament has been hosted on campus sites 22 times with nine host schools claiming tournament titles.

vs. The Tournament Field: The Statesmen have a 27-20 record in GSC Tournament games against this year's qualifying teams. The Statesmen are 4-4 against West Florida and have not played the Argos in postseason play since a 5-1 win in the 2014 GSC Tournament at UAB in Birmingham, Ala. Delta State is 10-8 against West Alabama, falling 8-4 in the 2015 GSC Championship round in Livingston, Ala. The Statesmen are 8-5 against UAH, claiming an 11-7 win in an elimination game at the 2015 GSC Tournament. DSU is 5-3 against West Georgia defeating the Wolves 10-0 in the 2013 tournament. Lee University will be making its first ever GSC Tournament appearance. 

Getting Offensive: The Statesmen lead the GSC in eight offensive categories: batting average (.352/5th NCAA), hits (564/7th NCAA), slugging percentage (.532/15th NCAA), doubles (115/8th NCAA), doubles per game (2.35/19th NCAA), RBIs (361), total bases (854),  and on base percentage (.427/11th NCAA). The Statesmen are second in the GSC in runs (378/31st) , runs per game (7.7/39th NCAA), home runs (49/40th NCAA) and fourth in triples (14/62nd NCAA).

2016 GSC Baseball Tournament 
Saturday, May 7
Game 1:  No. 6 Lee vs. No. 1 West Florida
Game 2:  No. 5 Alabama Huntsville vs. No. 2 Delta State
Game 3:  No. 4 West Georgia vs. No. 3 West Alabama

Sunday, May 8
Game 4:  Loser (Game 1) vs. Loser (Game 2)
Game 5:  Winner (Game 1) vs. Loser (Game 3)
Game 6:  Winner (Game 2) vs. Winner (Game 3)

Monday, May 9 (if four teams remain after Game 6)
Game 7:  Winner (Game 5) vs. Winner (Game 6)
Game 8:  Winner (Game 4) vs. Loser (Game 6)
Game 9:  Winner (Game 8) vs. Loser (Game 7)

Tuesday, May 10
Game 10:  Winner (Game 7) vs. Winner (Game 9)
Game 11:  Same Teams (*If necessary)

Monday, May 9 (if five teams remain after Game 6 and two after Game 9)
Game 7:  Loser (Game 5) vs. Loser (Game 6)
Game 8:  Winner (Game 5) vs. Winner (Game 6)
Game 9:  Winner (Game 7) vs. Winner (Game 6)

Tuesday, May 10
Game 10:  Winner (Game 8) vs. Winner (Game 9)
Game 11:  Same Teams (*If necessary)

Monday, May 9 (if five teams remain after Game 6 and three after Game 9)
Game 7:  Loser (Game 5) vs. Loser (Game 6)
Game 8:  Winner (Game 5) vs. Winner (Game 6)
Game 9:  Winner (Game 7) vs. Winner (Game 6)

Tuesday, May 10
Game 10:  Loser (Game 9) vs. Winner (Game 8)
Game 11:  Winner (Game 9) vs. Winner (Game 10)
 

DELTA STATE'S GSC CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS
1978 43-19 (14-4)    1996 53-8 (15-1)
1979 32-20 (12-6)    2000 48-12 (13-3)
1985 38-20 (7-5)      2003 52-10 (28-4)
1988 44-13 (13-1)    2004 54-11 (19-3)
1991 33-12 (11-2)    2008 48-11 (17-1)
1994 45-13 (19-4)   2012 49-15 (17-6)

FIVE STATESMEN EARN GSC HONORS: Delta State University junior Tre Hobbs was named the Gulf South Conference Pitcher of the Year, while five 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.

THREE STATESMEN RECEIVE DEGREES: In a special ceremony, Delta State President William LaForge and Provost Dr. Charles McAdams awarded degrees to Statesmen Ben Pickard, Ethan Gill and Josh Paden and  on Wednesday, May 4.  Graduation is set for Saturday, May 7 when the Statesmen open play in the GSC Tournament. Pickard was presented his Bachelors degree in biology. Gill earned his Bachelors degree in sports management and Paden received a double Bachelors degree in business and marketing.

DANGER WILL ROBERTSON: Will Robertson leads the GSC in batting average (.457/7th NCAA), doubles (27/3rd NCAA), hits (86/5th NCAA), and RBIs (69/5th NCAA). Robertson also ranks second in the GSC in total bases (137/14th NCAA), slugging percentage (.729/31st NCAA) and on base percentage (.518). Robertson enters the GSC Tournament first on the DSU single season batting average list ahead of Dee Haynes (.444, 1999) and his .425 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 20 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 single season doubles list. Ethan Gill's 15 doubles are 12th in the GSC. The Statesmen enter the GSC Tournament with a League leading 115 doubles (5th NCAA) and 2.35 doubles per game (19th NCAA).

DOUBLE DIGIT HITS: Delta State has recorded double digit hits in 31-of-49 games and in 17 of its last 25 games. The Statesmen recorded a season-high 22 against Mississippi College (5.1.16) and had double digit hits in two of the three games  in the MC series (4.30 -5.1.16). 

PLUNKED!: The Statesmen have been hit by a pitch 79 times, second in the GSC and eighth nationally. West Georgia leads the GSC and NCAA with 93. Ethan Gill and Will Robertson have been hit 14 (7th GSC) and 10 times (10th GSC), respectively.

SITTIN'EM DOWN!: Delta State's pitching staff has 357 strikeouts which rank third in the GSC. The Statesmen are third in the GSC with a 2.86 strikeout-to-walk ratio (15th NCAA) and fourth in the GSC with 8.1 strikeouts per nine innings ratio.  Dalton Moats is second in the GSC and 12th nationally with 97 strikeouts and his 6.47 strikeout-to-walk ratio, which leads the GSC (14th NCAA). Moats is four strikeouts away from tying Stewart Cliburn (1977) and Jeremy McClain (1999) for sixth on the DSU single season strikeouts list.  Moats'  9-3 record is third in the GSC and 10th 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 singles 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 GSC and NCAA in wins and also leads the GSC with  eight complete games (2nd NCAA). The Greenville, Miss., ranks 13th in the GSC with 62 strikeouts. Hobbs was announced as 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).