CLEVELAND, Miss. -- No. 14 Delta State University (26-8, 16-5 GSC) hosts Shorter University for a (18-15, 7-13 GSC) three-game Gulf South Conference series, starting with a doubleheader on Saturday at 2 p.m. and concluding with a single game on Sunday at 2 p.m.
 

	Delta State (26-8, 16-5 GSC)	Shorter University (18-5, 7-13 GSC)
Dates	Sat., April 8 | 2 p.m. (DH)	Sun., April 9 | 2 p.m.
Location	Cleveland, Miss.	Harvey Stadium-Ferriss Field
Live Stats	GM 1 Here | GM 2 Here | GM 3 Here	Statesmen Audio: Follow Here
Game Notes:	Week 10 vs. Shorter University
Team Information	DSU Roster | Stats | Schedule	SU Roster | Stats | Schedule
Radio:	WCLD Majic 107.5 FM (Cleveland)

First Pitch II: Margaret and David Ferriss will throw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to Saturday's doubleheader while Brett Marchant will do the honors before Sunday's series finale versus the Hawks. Margaret and David are the daughter and son of Coach Dave "Boo" Ferriss, who passed away on Nov. 24, 2016. Marchant is the son of Coach Bill Marchant, who passed away on Feb. 20, 2016.

Make-A-Wish Weekend:  April 6-9 is Make-A-Wish weekend sponsored by the Delta State SAAC committee. The goal is to raise $11K to sponsor one child's wish. Text WISH to 50555 to donate $5 to Make-A-Wish all weekend. Fans can also get a pledge form Make-A-Wish table on the concourse of Harvey Stadium to support Walks-For-Wishes. Each time the Statesmen draw a walk during the three-game series your pledge per walk will go towards helping the SAAC reach its goal.

Shannon Named GSC POTW: Junior Zack Shannon was named the Gulf South Conference Baseball Player of the Week for the week ending April 2, 2017. Shannon hit .533 with seven runs scored, a home run and 11 RBIs to help the Statesmen to a 3-1 week. The Cincinnati, Ohio, native batted .700 with a grand slam home run and 10 RBIs, slugged 1.000 and had an .800 on base percentage in a three-game sweep of Christian Brothers last weekend. The Cincinnati, Ohio, native was named the South Region Player of the Week by the NCBWA.

Scouting Shorter: Blaze Vazquez is hitting .377 with six home runs and 20 RBIs. Vazquez is tied with William Winslow and Raul Cortes with seven doubles. Jack Leech is the RBIs leader with 34 along with five home runs and four doubles while Ty Cherry has a team-high seven home runs and 34 RBIs. The Hawks are batting .275 with 37 home runs, and 45 RBIs. Probable starting pitchers (base on last series): Jacob Ramos (RHP, 3-3, 5.04 ERA, 55 Ks, 23 BB, 30 R, 28 ER, 50.0), Jerry Liang (RHP, 3-0, 3.79 ERA, 26 Ks, 9 BBs, 21 R, 17 ER, 40.1) and Tyler Buchanan (RHP, 4.35 ERA, 2-1, 22 Ks, 16 BBs, 12 R, 10 ER, 20.2).

ABOUT THE STATESMEN    
Delta State leads the GSC in nine offensive categories, including average (.322), runs scored (270), hits (372), doubles (66), RBIs, (243), total bases (551), slugging percentage (.477), hit by pitch (78) and on base percentage (.417).  Nationally, the Statesmen rank 22nd in hits and on base percentage, 21st in runs scored, 26th in runs per game (7.9), 12th in sac-flies (19), and 36th in home runs. The Statesmen are second in the country double plays turned (36) and fourth double plays per game (1.09).

Zack Shannon leads the Statesmen in batting average (.450), hits (56), RBIs (56), home runs (10), runs scored 35), and slugging percentage (.477). Clay Casey has 11 doubles and is second with eight home runs and 30 RBIs. Juwan Burney is 8-for-8 in stolen bases. The probable weekend rotation is Corey Beard (5-0, 4.53 ERA, 44 Ks, 17 BBs, 35 R, 26 ER, 51.2 IP), Tre Hobbs (4-4, 5.76 ERA, 47 Ks, 13 BBs, 43 R, 32 ER, 50.0 IP) and Seth Birdsong (5-1, 3.91 ERA, 45 Ks, 17 BBs, 24 R, 22 ER, 50.2 IP). Senior Zach Osbon is 5-1 with three saves and a 1.05 ERA in 13 appearances out of the bullpen.  

CBU SERIES NOTES
Delta State scored a series season-high 45 runs the Christian Brothers (4.1-2) series. The previous two GSC series the Statesmen scored 30 against Alabama Huntsville (4.18-19) and 32 against North Alabama (3.25-26).  The Statesmen captured game one, 22-8, game two ,15-3, and 8-0 in game three. The Statesmen hit .432 with three home runs, 10 doubles and three triples as a team in the series. Zack Shannon hit.700 with a home run and 10 RBIs. Clay Casey hit a .545 average with two doubles, a home run and five RBIs followed by Emil Ellis with a .538 average, two doubles, two triples and six RBIs. Jason Popovich hit .467 with one double and one home run and Nick Morgan hit .429 with two doubles and six RBIs. Seth Birdsong scattered six hits over eight innings with eight strikeouts and no walks to earn the game three win.

STATESMEN BLANK OBU (TUES.)
Cody Young and Zack Shannon combined for six RBIs and Delta State pitchers combined for an eight hit shutout as the No. 13 Statesmen (26-8) captured a 10-0 win over Ouachita Baptist (11-24) on Tuesday at Rab Rodgers Field in Arkadelphia, Ark. John Wesley Ray (2-0) scattered six hits through three scoreless innings with three strikeouts to earn the win in his second start of the season.  Brady Chambley worked three innings in relief of Ray, allowing no runs on four hits with three strikeouts while Peyton White closed the game with a scoreless ninth.

BLACK AND BLUE
The Green-and-White  have been hit by pitch 78 times, which leads the GSC and NCAA.  The Statesmen were hit five times in the Christian Brothers series and three times in the midweek affair at Ouachita Baptist.  Brian Lane is tied for first in the GSC with 12 HBPs followed by Clay Casey in fourth with 10 HBPs.

LONG BALLS
The Statesmen ranked third in the GSC and 36th nationally with 33 home runs. Shorter (37) and Union (36) are 1-2 in the GSC in home runs.  Delta State hit three-plus home runs in seven series with a series-high of five against Lee University (2.25-26). Delta State hit a game-high three-home runs against Lee University (2.13) and Henderson State (3.21).  Zack Shannon has the lone walk-off home run, belting a two-run big fly in a 10-8 win over Union (3.4).

DOUBLE DIGIT HITS/RUNS
The Statesmen have registered double digit hits 18 times, including the four straight games. DSU posted a season-high 21 hits versus Christian Brothers (4.1) and followed up with 19 hits in game two. The Green-and-White has posted 15 hits five times. Delta State has tallied double figure runs 12 times and eight-plus runs 18 times.  The Statesmen scored a season-high 22 runs in game one vs. CBU (4.1).

TWO OUT LIGHTNING
Delta State has scored 100 of its 270 runs scored have come with two outs and have 90 two-out RBIs. The Statesmen are hitting .336 with two outs. The Statesmen scored 17 of its 45 runs with two outs in the CBU series. Zack Shannon and Clay Casey lead the Statesmen with 13 two out RBIs followed by Jason Popovich with nine.

DUCKS ON THE POND
The Statesmen are hitting .365 with runners in scoring position. Zack Shannon Clay Casey, Juwan Burney, Jason Popovich and Nick Morgan and have been the top hitters with runners in scoring position. Shannon is hitting .546 (28-for-51) followed by Casey (.400), Burney (.344), Popovich (.390) and Morgan (.348).

K ZONE
The Statesmen pitching staff has registered double digit strikeouts in five games, including a season-high 12 strikeouts versus Lee (2.26). DSU pitchers struck out 11 against Florida Southern (11/2.10) and Union (3.4), and 10 versus Harding (2.5) and Mount Olive (2.11).  Delta State hurlers have notched seven-plus strikeouts in 22-of-34  games.  

STATESMEN IN EXTRA INNINGS
The Statesmen have played three extra inning games and are 2-1 following an 11 inning loss at Southern Arkansas on Tuesday.  Delta State opened the season with a 9-7 win over Harding in 11 innings and beat Union University 10-8 on a Zack Shannon walk off home run in the bottom of the 10th.