CLEVELAND, Miss. – The Delta State University baseball team took advantage of 15 hits to defeat Southern Arkansas University 8-4, in the 2017 home opener, on Wednesday at Harvey Stadium at Ferriss Field.
 
Final Score: #23 Delta State 8, Southern Arkansas 4
Date: Wed., Feb. 22, 2017 | Start Time: 5:00 pm
Location: Cleveland, Miss. | Harvey Stadium-Ferriss Field
Records:  Statesmen 7-2 | Muleriders 6-3
Series: Delta State leads 60-28
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 

• Emil Ellis, the second batter of the game for the Statesmen, put the home team on the board when he hit his first home run of the season.
• DSU added to its lead later in the inning when Zack Shannon singled through the left side, scoring Brian Lane.
• SAU got to within 2-1 in the top of the second on a fielders choice RBI by Josey Langston.
• The Statesmen broke it open in the third, scoring four runs on an RBI double by Dakota Glore, a two RBI double by Clay Casey and a run-scoring single by Clay Casey.
• After two scoreless innings SAU scored a pair in the top of the sixth, making the score 6-3, taking advantage of a throwing error by Ellis and an RBI single by James Trevanion.
• The Statesmen responded in the bottom of the inning on Justin Nussbaum's second home run of the season.
• Shannon finished the scoring for the Statesmen in the bottom of the eighth when he sent a 3-2 offering into shallow left center for an RBI single.
• The Muleriders plated the final run of the game in the top of the ninth, making the score 8-4, as they took advantage of a passed ball and a pair of errors.
• After allowing an unearned run, Shannon struck out the final two batters with the bases loaded to hold on for the win.

 
ON THE MOUND
 

• Brady Chambley (1-0) earned the victory, allowing one unearned run on two hits in four innings.
• Eric Schildt allowed six runs on nine hits in the loss.
• Peyton White (3.2) and Bryant Johnston (0.1) also pitched in relief for DSU.

 
NOTABLES:
 

• The Statesmen are now 7-0 when scoring the first run of a game.
• DSU is 4-0 when scoring six or more runs.
• Shannon became the first Statesman this season to record four hits in a game. He also has five multi-hit contests.
• Jason Popovich extended his hitting streak to seven games, and his reached base streak to 10.
• All nine DSU starters recorded at least one hit.
• Seven Statesmen runs came with two outs.
• DSU pitchers have now struck out nine batters in eight games.

 
WHAT'S NEXT
 
Delta State travels to Lee University for a Gulf South Conference series, starting with a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m. CT in Cleveland, Tenn.