CLEVELAND, Mississippi -- Delta State University baseball (5-1, 0-0 GSC) opens its 2107 Gulf South Conference schedule against the University of West Alabama (5-3, 0-0 GSC) on Saturday n Livingston, Ala. The three game series begins with a doubleheader on Sat., at 2 p.m. and continues Sun., at 1 p.m. at Tartt Field in Livingston, Ala.
Scouting UWA: West Alabama enters after a 14-2 loss to Miles College on Tues., Feb. 14 in Corner, Ala. Dylan Little recorded three hits in the loss to Miles and leads the Tigers with a .600 average and is second with seven RBIs. Taylor Stafford has a team-best four home runs and 15 RBIs. The Tigers are hitting .363 with 17 doubles, seven triples and 12 home runs. On the mound, UWA has 5.43 ERA with 63 strikeouts to 27 walks while allowing 53 runs, 43 earned in 71.1 innings pitched. Braxton Wallace has a team-high nine strikeouts while Jonathan Porter has eight strikeouts and the lone save out of the bull pen.
Weekend Recap: Delta State went 2-1 in a weekend round robin format against No. 20 Florida Southern College and No. 33 Mount Olive. The Statesmen captured a 4-1 win over FSC on Fri.,behind a solid pitching performance from Corey Beard, who struck out seven while allowing one run on four hits in 6.1 innings. On Saturday, the Statesmen fell 13-0 to FSC before bouncing back for a 9-8 win over UMO to close the weekend. Center fielder Jason Popovich went 3-for-6 with a triple and two RBIs, including the go ahead RBI in the ninth in the win over UMO. Zach Osbon tossed four scoreless innings in two relief outings, giving up no hits with five strikeouts while picking up a win (UMO) and a save (FSC) over the weekend.
Nail Biters: All five Delta State wins are by two runs or less and includes three one run victories. DSU's average margin of victory is 1.6 runs.
GSC Openers: The Green-and-White are 21-15 in GSC openers and have lost the last two GSC openers to the UWA. The Statesmen rebounded after the game one loss in 2016 to win the series (2-1, 13-6). The Statesmen are 11-9 in conference openers under Head Coach Mike Kinnison.
GSC Predictions: Delta State (109) was picked to finish second in the GSC Preseason Coaches Poll, one point behind top pick West Florida (110). West Georgia, West Alabama, Alabama Huntsville and Valdosta State followed the Statesmen.
REMEMBERING TWO LEGENDS
The white decals on the Statesmen batting helmets are in honor two Statesmen coaching legends, Dave "Boo" Ferriss (33) and Bill Marchant (22). Ferriss (94 / 1921-2016) passed away on Nov. 24, 2016 and Marchant (69 / 1947-2016) passed away on June 8, 2016. A sign will also be displayed on the outfield fence at Harvey Stadium-Ferriss Field with the coaches retired jersey numbers. Ferriss spent 46 years in college and pro baseball and won 639 games as the Statesmen's head coach. The Statesmen went to the NCAA Division II World Series three times, made the playoffs in eight of his last 12 years and won four GSC championships under Ferriss. Marchant (1947-2016) gave Delta State 27 years of dedicated service to the University, Statesmen Baseball and Athletics. Marchant replaced the retired Ferriss 1989. Marchant's record was 283-127-1 (.820), leading DSU to two GSC titles and two Division II College World Series appearances. Marchant played for Delta State from 1965-1969, and one of the highlights of his playing career was pitching in the first Division II College World Series in 1968.
ROAD WARRIORS
Delta State opens 2017 with nine straight road games and 12 of its first 14 games on the road. The Statesmen's only home game in February will be a midweek game against the Southern Arkansas on Wed., Feb. 22 at 5 p.m. The first home conference series is against Union University on Sat., March 4 at 12 p.m.
STATESMEN DEBUTS
The Statesmen have seen 18-of-25 newcomers make debuts for the Green-and-White. Josh Russell (C), Brian Lane (C), David Pimentel (DH), Zack Shannon (1B), Emil Ellis (2B), Justin Nussbaum (SS), Clay Casey (RF), Jason Popovich (CF), Tyler Brown (RF), Seth Birdsong (P), John Wesley Ray (P), Peyton White (P), Jamell Newson (RF), Tyler Milligan (P), Jonathan Lindsey (P), Andy Borries (P), Tyler Milligan (P), and Matthew Majeur (P).
BEARD SETTLING INTO LEAD ROLE
After a tough first start against Harding, senior Corey Beard seemed more settled in his second start as the game one starter. The Jefferson City, Mo., native scattered six hits with a career-high seven strikeouts over 6.1 innings to earn the win against No 20 Florida Southern (2.10.17).
THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER
Senior Zach Osbon has been the go to arm out of the bull pen. Osbon has a 0.00 ERA and is 2-0 with a save, six strikeouts in three appearances. In a 7-7 game against Harding, Osbon got out of a bases loaded jam in the ninth inning as the Statesmen went on to claim a 9-7 win in 11 innings in the season opener. The Monroe, La., native entered the game in the seventh against No. 20 Florida Southern with runners at second and third and one out to save a 4-1 win. Osbon came on in the eighth inning in an 8-8 game against No. 33 Mount Olive and ended a scoring threat. Delta State would go ahead 9-8 in the top of the ninth and Osbon retired the Trojans in order in the bottom of the ninth for the win.
MR CLUTCH
Center fielder Jason Popovich is hitting .571 with two outs and .333 with runners in scoring position. He delivered a two-out RBI single in the season opener versus Harding to extend the lead to 9-7 in an extra inning win. His solo home run in the fifth inning of game two against HU proved to be the difference in a 5-4 win. Popovich had a two-out RBI single in the ninth to extend DSU's lead to 4-1 against No. 20 Florida Southern (2.10.17). Popovich delivered a game-tying two-out RBI single in the sixth and the game winning RBI single in the top of the ninth in a 9-8 win over No. 33 Mount Olive.
INTERCHANGEABLE PARTS
The Statesmen lineup includes players who can play multiple positions. Junior Josh Russell caught two games and played third base. Sophomore Juwan Burney played third and left field and has been the designated hitter. Brian Lane has starts at catcher and designated hitter and Jamell Newson has played in left field but is also the substitute in center field and right field.
ALABAMA CONNECTIONS
Cade Mullins (IF) and Brian Lane (C/DH) are the lone players on the Delta State roster from the state of Alabama. Mullins is from Birmingham and played his prep baseball at Homewood High School. Lane played for Alabama 6A powerhouse Spanish Fort High in Spanish Fort, Ala., capturing three state titles while playing in four championship series.
DOUBLE DIGIT Ks
Delta State's pitching staff is averaging 10.2 strikeouts per game through six games. Statesmen hurlers have posted double figure strikeouts three times and have recorded eight or more strikeouts in five of six games. Double figure strikeout games include: 10 vs. Harding (2.5.17) and No. 33 Mount Olive (2.11.17); 11 vs. Florida Southern (2.10.17). In the season opener against Harding, the Statesmen had nine strikeouts and eight strikeouts in game two versus Florida Southern (2.11.17).
COACH K, BASEBALL STYLE
In his 20 seasons at the helm of the Statesmen, Mike Kinnison has posted 12 40-plus wins, including five 50 win seasons, and has averaged 42.6 wins per season. Kinnison has guided the Statesmen to one national, six GSC and five south/south central region championships during his tenure.
KINNISON 40 PLUS WIN SEASONS
2016 42-17 2004 54-11
2013 44-11-1 2003 52-10
2012 49-15 2002 50-8
2008 48-1 2001 50-11
2007 45-16 2000 48-12
2005 52-10 1999 41-12
ACADEMIC PROPS
Working hard in the classroom is a staple of Delta State Baseball and Athletics and the 2016 fall semester was no exception. Twenty-nine-of-36 Statesmen on the 2017 roster achieved a 3.0 GPA or higher during the semester. Overall, 216 Statesmen and Lady Statesmen achieved a 3.0 GPA or better during the 2016 fall semester and were honored during halftime of the men's basketball against Mississippi College on Thursday.
2017 OPPONENTS IN CBN PRESEASON POLL
The UWA series marks six straight game against opponent ranked in preseason national polls. Delta State enters the UWA series 2-1 against teams ranked in preseason national polls. Overall, the Statesmen will face 10 opponents, five from the GSC, that are ranked or received votes in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper or NCBWA preseason polls. 2017 Preseason Ranked opponents: West Florida (19), Florida Southern (20), West Georgia (26), Arkansas-Monticello (31), Mount Olive (33), West Alabama (34). Received Votes: Alabama Huntsville (RV), Southern Arkansas (RV), Henderson State (RV), Valdosta State (RV)
FAMILY TIES
Delta State has a long history of family ties and the 2017 season is no exception. Junior Tyler Milligan,who transfers from Mississippi Delta Community College, is the younger brother of former Statesmen pitcher Drew Milligan (2012-2015). Drew Milligan was drafted in the 22nd Round by the Kansas City Royals after posting an 11-6 career record with 114 strikeouts and a 3.10 ERA in 136.2 innings pitched.
