MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Zack Shannon and
Clay Casey combined to hit four home runs and drive in nine to lead No. 6 Delta State University (21-6) to a 26-4 win over No. 24 Southern Arkansas (19-9) on Tuesday at Walker Stadium at Goodheart Field.
Score: #6 Delta State 26 | #24 Southern Arkansas 4
Date/Time: Tues., March 27, 2018 |
Start: 2:00 p.m. |
TOG: 2:41
Location: Magnolia, Ark. | Walker Stadium-Goodheart Field
Records: Statesmen 21-6 | Muleriders 19-9
Series: Statesmen lead series 63-32
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Delta State built a quick 6-0 lead, scoring six runs on seven hits in the first. Zack Shannon and Clay Casey homered to get the Statesmen offense going early. Shannon clubbed a three-run home run with Emil Ellis and Brian Lane on base and Casey followed with a solo home run to center. Nick Morgan singled and scored when Josh Russell reached on a fielder's choice and Russell crossed the plate on a Nussbaum RBI-single.
- The Muleriders cut the lead to 6-2 in the bottom of the first on a Cortland McPherson two-run home run with Austin Baker on the bases with a walk.
- The Green-and-White added two runs in the second inning to build an 8-2 lead. Lane was hit by a pitch, Shannon drew a walk and Casey was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Lane came home when Morgan was hit by a pitch and Shannon scored on a Juwan Burney sac-fly to center.
- Three runs came across in the fourth and fifth innings to push the Statesmen advantage to 14-2. Shannon hit a solo home run while Russell and Nussbaum had RBI singles in the fourth. Casey highlighted the fifth with a three-run home run to left with Shannon and Popovich aboard.
- Riley Orr singled and scored on a Jake Tisevich groundout in the bottom of the fifth to trim the DSU lead to 14-3.
- Six runs scored for the Green-and-White in the sixth inning. Popovich and Lane had RBI singles along with a Shannon RBI double in the sixth. Two more runs scored when Darek Sargent and Tyler Brown were hit by a pitch with the bases loaded
- SAU's Cole Boyd hit a pinch-hit home run in the bottom of the six to make the score 20-6.
- Jamell Newson highlighted a six-run seventh with a grand slam home run, and Payton Lane and David Herrington each added RBI singles to end the scoring.
ON THE MOUND
- DSU starter Seth Hougesen (1-0) tossed three innings, yielding two runs on three hits with two strikeouts and a walk to pick up the win.
- SAU starter Hunter Lewis (1-1) gave up six runs, five earned, on five hits in 1/3 of an inning to suffer the loss for SAU.
- Hunter Riggins threw two relief innings, giving up a run on two hits with two strikeouts.
- Andy Borries had a pair of strikeouts and allowed one run on a hit in one inning pitched and Jason Lott tossed a scoreless inning with two strikeouts to finish the game.
NOTABLES
- Shannon's two home runs moved him into a tie for third with Dee Hayes (1998) on the single season home runs list (21) and also places him in a tie for third on the career list (40) with Craig Newton (2002-04).
- Casey's two home runs give him 26 career long balls, tying him with Mike Moore (1983-84) and Sammy Clay (1973-76) for seventh.
- Shannon and Casey belted back-to-back home runs for the second time this year in the Statesmen's six-run first inning.
- Jamell Newson's grand slam in the seventh was the fourth grand slam for the Statesmen this year.
- DSU hit a season-high five home runs and has had multiple home runs in 13 games this season.
- All nine starters in the lineup recorded at least one hit for the Statesmen.
- Shannon went 3-for-3 with five RBIs and five runs scored and Popovich was 3-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored.
- Casey was 2-for-4 with four RBIs and two home runs followed by Lane, Russell and Nussbaum with two hits apiece.
- The Statesmen tallied their 18th double figure hit game this season, tying a season-high with 21 hits and scoring a season-high 26 runs. The Statesmen scored 21 runs on 21 hits at Nova Southeastern University (2.3).
UP NEXT
Delta State hosts Christian Brothers University for a three-game Gulf South Conference series beginning with a doubleheader on Friday at 2 p.m. and concluding with a single game on Saturday at 2 p.m.