HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – No. 23 Delta State University (18-7, 10-5 GSC) used a four-run sixth before holding off a late rally by the University of Alabama Huntsville (10-15, 6-9 GSC) for a 6-3 win in the nightcap of a doubleheader on Sunday at Charger Park. The Statesmen scored 11 runs on 15 hits to win game one the way to sweeping the three-game series.
Final Score: GM1: #23 DSU 11 | Alabama Huntsville 4
Final Score: GM2: #23 DSU 6 | Alabama Huntsville 2
Date/First Pitch: Sun., March 19, 2017 |
GM 1: 11:59 p.m. |
GM 2: 3:48 p.m.
TOG: GM 1: 3:12 |
GM 2: 2:20
Location: Huntsville, Ala. | Charger Park
Records: Statesmen 18-7, 10-5 | Chargers 10-15, 6-9 GSC
Series: Delta State leads 45-18
HOW IT HAPPENED (GM 1)
- The Statesmen built a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. Juwan Burney doubled and Brian Lane singled to start the inning before scoring on a Zack Shannon three-run home run to left.
- Delta State pushed the lead to 5-0 in the top of the third. Burney reached on an error and scored on a Lane double, and Lane scored one batter later on a Clay Casey double.
- Shannon knocked in his fourth run followed by run RBI singles by Emil Ellis and Justin Nussbaum to give the Statesmen a 9-0 lead in the top of the fifth.
- UAH cut the deficit to 9-2 in the bottom of the fifth on a two-run single by Justin Ware.
- The Green-and-White pushed a run across in the top of the seventh and eighth to give the Statesmen an 11-2 lead. Emil Ellis singled and scored on an RBI ground out by Jason Popovich in the seventh and Ellis singled in a run in the eighth.
- UAH scored a run in the bottom of the eighth and ninth to make the score 11-4. Lance Cleveland had an RBI single in the eighth and Tanner Burns brought a run home on a sac-fly in the ninth.
ON THE MOUND (GM 1)
- Statesmen starter Seth Birdsong (3-1), who carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning, struck out seven while allowing three runs on nine hits through eight innings to earn the win.
- UAH starter Riley Camp (2-2) gave up nine runs, eight earned, on nine hits to take the loss.
- Peyton White came on with the bases loaded in the ninth, getting two fly outs and a strikeout to end the game.
HOW IT HAPPENED (GM 2)
- AJ Walden singled and scored on a ground out to give the Chargers a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second.
- A Casey solo home run to lead off the fifth tied the game 1-1.
- UAH regained a 2-1 lead in the home half of the fifth. Cleveland singled and subsequently scored on a Ware single.
- The Statesmen struck for four runs on four hits in the top of the sixth to take a 5-2 lead. Burney walked and after moving to third, scored on a Shannon sac-fly to tie the game. Casey was hit by a pitch and later scored on a wild pitch. Nick Morgan singled through the left side and to bring home Ellis.
- Delta State added an insurance run in the top of the seventh to lead 6-2. Burney got aboard with a bunt single to start the inning and moved to second a sac bunt by Dakota Glore. Burney scored on a Shannon single to right field.
- A Tanner Burns RBI single cut the lead to 6-3 in the bottom of the seventh. Hobbs struck out Ben Rhodes with two runners on and two outs to end the game.
ON THE MOUND (GM 2)
- Tre Hobbs (3-4) recorded seven strikeouts while giving up three runs, two earned, on nine hits to notch the complete game win.
- Will Myers carried a no-hitter into the fourth before yielding a hit to Burney, Myers gave up two runs on two hits with a four strikeouts in five innings.
- Gabe Gunter (1-3) gave up three runs on three hits as the pitcher of record for the Chargers.
NOTEABLES
- The Statesmen have won the last 10 games in the series while improving to 13-7 in Huntsville, Ala.
- The Statesmen improved to 13-2 when scoring first and 8-2 when in the first inning game one.
- Ellis went 3-for-5 with two RBIs for his sixth multi-hit game and Nussbaum was 3-for-5 with an RBI to notch his fifth multi-hit.
- Shannon went 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs. The Cincinnati, Ohio, native drove in four runs for the second time this season and his home run was his team-best fifth.
- Burney and Lane also collected a pair of hits in game one.
- Birdsong struck out seven through eight innings, both career highs.
- Casey's solo home run in game two was his fifth, moving into a tie with Shannon for the team lead.
- Hobbs tossed his third complete game of the season and the 11th for his career while ending a two-game losing streak.
- Burney was 2-for-3 as the only Statesmen with multiple hits.
- The Statesmen had eight hits in game two with Lane, Shannon, Casey, Ellis, Morgan and Nussbaum each collecting a hit.
- Shannon went 3-for-8 with six RBIs in the doubleheader.
UP NEXT
- Delta State welcomes Henderson State University on Tuesday at 3 p.m. at Harvey Stadium-Ferriss Field.