CLEVELAND, Miss. – Zack Shannon and Clay Casey combined for six RBIs to lead No. 7 Delta State University (41-11) to a 6-3 win over the University of West Alabama (34-19) and the school's 14^th Gulf South Conference baseball title, on Tuesday at Harvey Stadium-Ferriss Field.  Zack Shannon was selected the tournament's Most Outstanding Player while teammates Emil Ellis,Tre Hobbs and Justin Nussbaum named to the All-Tournament team.

Final Score:  No. 7 Delta State 6 | West Alabama 3
Date/Time: Tues., May 9, 2017 | Start 5:57 p.m. | TOG 3:23
Location: Cleveland, Miss, | Harvey Stadium-Ferriss Field
Records:  Statesmen 41 -11 | Tigers 34-19
Series: Delta State leads the series 89-42
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Statesmen scored three runs in the top of the third to take a 3-0 lead. Jason Popovich singled and moved to third on a throwing error on an Emil Ellis ground ball, before Zack Shannon cleared the bases with his 18^th home run.
• West Alabama got a run back in the bottom of the third and fourth to cut the DSU lead to 3-2. Joel Murphy singled to score Brock Montgomery, who doubled in the third. Dylan Little singled and scored on a Tyler Lee single in the fourth.
• The Statesmen plated three runs in the in the seventh to extend the lead to 6-2. After Ellis reached on an error, Brian Lane walked and Shannon drew a walk to load the bases with two outs. Clay Casey lifted a fly ball to shallow right field that resulted in a three-run double after UWA's center fielder, second baseman and right fielder collided on the play.
• The Tigers cut the deficit to 6-3 with a run in the bottom of the eighth, as Little singled and scored three batters later on a Lee single.
• Taylor Stafford singled with one out in the bottom of the ninth before the game came to a close when Luke Phillips was called out after Stafford was called for runners interference on his slide into the second base.

ON THE MOUND

• Peyton White (3-1) gave up one run on two hits with a strikeout and a walk in 2.2 innings to earn the win in relief of starter Corey Beard.
• Starter Braxton Wallace (1-3) was the pitcher of record for the Tigers, yielding three runs on five hits and three walks.
• Zach Osbon pitched two scoreless innings with a strikeout to close the game.

NOTEABLES

• Shannon was selected the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, while teammates Ellis, Tre Hobbs and Justin Nussbaum named to the All-Tournament team.
• The Green-and White claimed their GSC record 14^th Baseball title and the seventh title under Head Coach Mike Kinnison.
• 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.
• The Statesmen have won eight straight GSC Tournament games since falling in the 2015 championship game to West Alabama.
• Shannon's three RBIs moved him into third on the school's single season RBI list with 84, passing Marcus Van Every (81/2001).
• Shannon notched his 18^th home run of the season in the third to move into a tie for third on the single season home run list with Mike Plumlee (1992) and Mike Moore (1994).
• Jason Popovich, who recorded his 25th multi-hit game, going 2-for-4, was the only Statesman with multiple hits.
• Shannon finished 1-for-4 with a three-run home run and Casey was 1-for-3 with a three-run double.
• Ellis went 1-for-5 with two runs scored.

 
UP NEXT                                          

• The Statesmen earned the GSC's automatic bid to the NCAA South Region on May 19-22 against an opponent and site that will be announced by the NCAA Division II Baseball Committee on May 14 at 9 p.m. (CDT).