LIVINGSTON, Ala. – Zack Shannon drove in six runs and
Zach Osbon recorded his second save in the series to help Delta State University (7-2, 2-1 GSC) claim a 10-6 win over the University of West Alabama (6-5, 1-2 GSC) on Sunday at Tartt Field. The win helped the Statesmen claim the GSC series, 2-1.
Final Score: #23 Delta State 10 | #34 West Alabama 6
Date/Time: Sunday, Feb. 19, 2017 | 1 p.m.
Location: Livingston, Ala. | Tartt Field
Records: Statesmen (7-2, 2-1 GSC) | Tigers (6-5, 1-2 GSC)
Series: Delta State leads 88-42 | 35-20 at Tartt Field
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Statesmen struck for three runs in the first to take a quick 3-0 lead. Jason Popovich singled and scored on a Zack Shannon sac-fly and Emil Ellis walked and scored Juwan Burney single. Brian Lane walked and later scored on a UWA fielding error.
- West Alabama got a run in the first and second to cut the deficit to 3-2. Nick Delgado doubled and scored on a Luke Phillips single in the second and Tyler Lee had an RBI double in the second.
- The Tigers loaded the bases in the bottom of the third but Seth Birdsong got a strikeout and a ground out to preserve the 3-2 lead.
- Ellis drew a one-out walk followed by a Lane double to set up a Shannon three-run home run to left field to give the Statesmen a 6-2 lead in the top of the fourth.
- The Green-and-White made it 7-2 in the top of the fifth on an Emil Ellis RBI single.
- West Alabama cut the deficit to 7-6 with a four run sixth. Brock Montgomery tripled and scored on a Tyler Lee sac-fly followed by a Luke Phillips run scoring single and a Josh Willingham two-run double with two outs. Bryant Johnston got Montgomery to fly out to center field with the bases loaded to end the frame.
- Three runs crossed the plate in the top of the ninth as the Statesmen took a 10-6 lead. Shannon drove in two runs with a single and Lane scored on a Burney ground out.
- West Alabama loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth but could not score as Osbon got a ground out to seal the win.
ON THE MOUND
- Seth Birdsong (1-0) started and pitched 5.2 innings, allowing two runs on five hits with six strikeouts against three walks to in five innings pitched.
- Osbon gave up two hits with three strikeouts in two scoreless innings pitched to record his second save in the series.
- Layton Deal (1-1) suffered the loss for the Tigers, giving up six runs, five earned, on seven hits with two strikeouts.
NOTEABLES
- Shannon's three-run home run was his first career home run to go along with a career-high six RBIs.
- Ellis went 3-for-3 with three runs scored for his second three-hit game this season and his fourth multi-hit outing.
- Popovich and Lane collected two hits apiece and Burney had two RBIs for the Statesmen.
- Statesmen pitchers combined for nine strikeouts for the second time in the series and have posted eight plus strikeouts in 8-of-9 games this season.
- After winning four of its first five games by two runs or less, the Statesmen won their first game by a four-run margin.
- The Green-and-White improved to 4-0 overall when leading after seven innings and 3-0 when scoring first.
- There were plenty of scoring chances as both teams combined to leave 28 runners on base, 14 runners each.
- The Statesmen improved to 4-2 against opponents ranked in the CBN and NCBWA Preseason National Polls.
- Delta State won its second straight GSC series over the Tigers while improving to 35-20 all-time at Tartt Field.
UP NEXT
Delta State hosts Southern Arkansas for its home opener on Wednesday at 5 p.m. at Harvey Stadium-Ferriss Field.
