CLEVELAND, Miss. -- No. 2/6 Delta State University (41-11, 25-8 GSC) faces No. 4 Florida Southern on Friday at 3 p.m. Florida Southern defeated #5 Valdosta Stat 6-3 in the night cap of day one on Thursday.
Ferriss Trophy Finalist: Junior
Zack Shannon was named one of five finalists for the C-Spire Ferriss Trophy announced by the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame on Monday. Joining Shannon as a finalist are Taylor Braley (Southern Miss), Dylan Burdeaux (Southern Miss), Brent Rooker (Mississippi State) and Matt Wallner (Southern Miss).
31 NCAA Tournament Appearances: The Statesmen are making their 31st NCAA postseason appearance. This will be DSU's fifth NCAA South Regional Tournament appearance in six years. Delta State owns 11 regional titles, including five under Head Coach
Mike Kinnison. The Green-and-White defeated Stillman College (5-2,10-7) twice on the final day to claim the 2012 regional crown. The Statesmen went on to finish runner-up in the NCAA Division II National Championship in Carey, N.C. Delta State owns a 65-42 all-time record in NCAA postseason play and a 13-9 mark in the NCAA South Regional. The Statesmen are 27-19 in the NCAA Division II World Series. Delta
State finished runner-up to eventual National Champion Nova Southeastern in last year's NCAA Division II South Regional in Tampa, Fla.
Getting Offensive: Delta State leads the GSC in 16 categories, including average (.320), at bats (1,780), runs (423), runs per game (8.1), home runs (60), home runs per game (1.15), hits (569), RBIs (383), total bases (864), slugging percentage (.486), hit by pitch (104), fewest strikeouts (238) and on base percentage (.410). The Statesmen are second in doubles (92). Defensively, the Statesmen lead the GSC and are fourth nationally in double plays turned (46), third nationally in double plays turned per game (1.08) and fielding percentage (9.65).
Against The Regional Field: The Statesmen have a 133-81 all-time record and a 61-23 overall record at Harvey Stadium-Ferriss Field against the NCAA Regional Tournament field. Head Coach Mike Kinnison is 78-52 overall while the Statesmen are 14-8 in NCAA tournament games against the field.
SEASON RECORD WATCH
Zack Shannon's 84 RBIs are third on DSU single season RBIs list while his 18 home runs are tied for fourth with Mike Plumlee (1992) and Mike Moore (1984).
Clay Casey's 17 home runs are fifth on the single season home runs list. Shannon is eight RBIs shy of breaking the school record of 92 held by Dee Haynes (1999). Shannon's has 88 hits, two shy of seventh on the single season hits list.
BLACK AND BLUE
The Green-and-White have been hit by pitch 104 times this year, which leads the GSC and ranks second nationally.
Brian Lane and
Clay Casey have been plunked 16 times, which ranks second in the GSC and 28th in the NCAA.
Nick Morgan follows with 13 (4th GSC),
Emil Ellis with 11 (12th GSC) and
Justin Nussbaum with 10 (16th GSC).
DIGGING THE LONG BALL
The Statesmen hit eight home runs in four games during the GSC Tournament and lead the GSC in home runs with 60. The Statesmen belted a GSC tournament game record six home runs in the 19-17 comeback win over Valdosta State (5.8). The previous GSC tournament game record was held by Southern Arkansas, Valdosta State and Delta State.
Zack Shannon hit two home runs and leads the GSC with 18 home runs followed by
Clay Casey with 17 bombs. The Green-and-White are 20-3 when hitting one home run and 11-1 when hitting two or more home runs. DSU is 31-3 when not allowing a home run.
DOUBLE DIGIT HITS/RUNS
The Statesmen have registered double digit hits 29 times after posting 19 runs on 19 hits in a 19-17 win over Valdosta State. DSU posted a season-high 21 hits against Christian Brothers (4.1). The Green-and-White has collected 15-plus hits 11 times. Delta State has tallied double figure runs 16 times and eight-plus runs 24 times. The Statesmen scored a season-high 22 runs vs. CBU (4.1) and lead the GSC with 8.1 runs per game. Delta State is 28-3 when outhitting and 6-0 when opponents equal the Statesmen hits.
STATESMEN CLAIM 14TH GSC TITLE
Delta State defeated the University of West Alabama 6-3 to claim a conference record 14th Gulf South Conference Tournament title and seventh under Head Coach
Mike Kinnison. The Statesmen went 3-0 in pool play, defeating Alabama Huntsville (9-2), Union University (6-1) and Valdosta State (19-17). The Statesmen claimed back-to-back tournament championships for the first time since 2003-2004, and are the only school to go back-to-back since 2000. North Alabama own the next most GSC titles with five.
SHANNON, 3 STATESMEN NAB GSC TOURNEY HONORS
Delta State first baseman
Zack Shannon was selected the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, while teammates
Emil Ellis,
Tre Hobbs and
Justin Nussbaum were named to the All-Tournament team. Shannon batted .313 with two home runs, seven RBIs and five runs scored in the tournament. Ellis hit. 381 with a double, two home runs, seven RBIs and six runs scored and Nussbaum hit .267 with a double, a home run, four runs scored and six RBIs. Hobbs set the tone to open the tournament, tossing a complete game with a career-high 13 strikeouts while allowing two runs on seven hits. Hobbs complete game was the sixth of the season and 14th for his career.
KINNISON, SHANNON NAB GSC's TOP HONORS
Delta State first baseman
Zack Shannon and Head Coach
Mike Kinnison took home the Gulf South Conference's top baseball honors. Shannon became the 10th Statesmen to be named the GSC Player of the Year while Kinnison was selected as the GSC Coach of the Year for the eighth time in his career and 15th time overall for a Delta State skipper.
SEVEN STATESMEN NAMED ALL GSC
Seven Statesmen earned All-GSC selections announced by the League office on Tues., May 2.
Zack Shannon (1B),
Brian Lane (DH),
Emil Ellis (2B),
Clay Casey (OF),
Seth Birdsong (SP) and
Zach Osbon (RP) were All-GSC First-Team selections while
Corey Beard (SP) was honored as a Second-Team All-GSC selection.
TOUGH 1-2 PUNCH
Zack Shannon and
Clay Casey have made things tough for on opposing pitchers in heart of the Statesmen order. Shannon leads the GSC in batting average (.415), RBIs (88), RBIs per game (1.65), hits (88), home runs (18), total bases (155), slugging percentage (.795), and on base percentage (.515). Nationally, first in RBIs, second in RBIs per game, fourth in batting average and hits, and sixth in slugging percentage and total bases. Casey is hitting .358 with 14 doubles, a triple, 17 home runs, and 61 RBIs and has scored 57 runs. The Melbourne, Fla., native is second in the GSC in home runs, RBIs and hit by a pitch, third in runs scored, fourth in doubles and hits and seventh in batting average.
