CLEVELAND, Miss. – Josh Russell belted a two-run home run and
Seth Birdsong struck out seven hitters over seven innings to lead No. 7 Delta State University (39-11) to a 6-1 win over Union University (33-19) in game seven of the 2017 Gulf South Conference Baseball Tournament on Saturday at Harvey Stadium-Ferriss Field. The Statesmen reach the GSC Tournament Championship game or the sixth straight year.
Final Score: No. 7 Delta State 6| Union University 1
Date/Time: Sun,.,May 7, 2017 |
Start 5:01 p.m. |
TOG 2:37
Location: Cleveland, Miss, | Harvey Stadium-Ferriss Field
Records: Statesmen 39-11 | Bulldogs 33-19
Series: Delta State leads the series 35-12
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Statesmen grabbed a 2-0 lead in the top of the second. Juwan Burney delivered a two out single and scored on Josh Russell's third home run of the season.
- Delta State struck for three runs in the sixth, as Clay Casey worked a one-out walk and scored two batters later on a Justin Nussbaum single to center. Russell, who singled, and Nussbaum crossed the plate on a double down the right field line by Nick Morgan.
- Zack Shannon singled home Brian Lane, who reached on an error, to give the Statesmen a 6-0 lead in the seventh.
- Union cracked the board in the bottom of the seventh to cut the DSU lead to 6-1. Zach Wylie doubled to lead off the inning and scored on a Dylan Moore single to left.
- Zach Osbon came on with runners at second and third in the ninth. Osbon picked off the runner at third and struck Moore to close the game.
ON THE MOUND
- Seth Birdsong worked seven innings, allowing one run on five hits with seven strikeouts to earn the win.
- Teddy Christie gave up five runs on seven hits with two strikeouts as the pitcher of record for Union.
NOTEABLES
- The Statesmen have won their last five GSC Tournament games.
- Birdsong pitched into the seventh inning for the seventh straight start.
- Statesmen pitchers have struck out at least six hitters for seven straight games.
- Russell went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and two RBIs, and Ellis finish 2-for-5 to lead the Statesmen at the plate.
- Delta State improved to 25-3 when scoring first this season, and 30-1 when leading after six innings.
- Shannon went 1-4 with an RBI to extend his hitting streak to 14 games and his reached base streak to 44 games.
- Morgan chipped in two RBIs with a double.
- Casey was walked two times to extend his games reached base streak to 34.
- The Statesmen reach the GSC Tournament Championship game or the sixth straight year.
UP NEXT
- Delta State continues play in the 2017 GSC Baseball tournament when it is scheduled to face No. 4 seed Valdosta State University on Monday at 5 p.m..