CLEVELAND, Miss. – Junior
Dalton Minton tossed a two-hit complete game shutout with six strikeouts to lead No. 6/8 Delta State University (23-6, 13-3 GSC) to a 4-0 win over Christian Brothers (9-23, 3-14 GSC) in game two of a doubleheader on Friday at Harvey Stadium-Ferriss Field. The Statesmen scored six runs on 11 hits to claim game one 6-4.
GM 1 Score: #6 Delta State 6 | Christian Brothers 4
GM 2 Score: #6 Delta State 4 | Christian Brothers0
Date/Time: Fri., March 30, 2018
GM 1 Start: 2:01 p.m. |
TOG: 2:21
GM 2 Start: 5:00 p.m. |
TOG: 1:36
Location: Cleveland, Miss. | Harvey Stadium-Ferriss Field
Records: Statesmen 23-6, 13-3 GSC | Bucs 9-23, 3-14 GSC
Series: Statesmen lead series 91-10, 59-2 under
Mike Kinnison
HOW IT HAPPENED (GM 1)
- The Statesmen scored a pair of unearned runs in the first to take a quick 2-0 advantage. Emil Ellis singled and scored when Zack Shannon reached on an error and Shannon came home on a Clay Casey single to right.
- Parker Jordan cut the DSU lead in half with a solo home run to left to make the score 2-1 in the top of the second.
- The Bucs tied the game with a run in the top of the third when Jeff Goodwin singled and scored on a Jaime Soto double to right center.
- Delta State plated a run in the third and fourth innings to build a 4-2 lead. Ellis had a one-out single and after advancing to second on a wild pitch scored on a Shannon single in the third. Juwan Burney singled and moved to third on an error before scoring on a Nick Morgan sac-fly to center.
- Two runs crossed in the bottom of the seventh to push the lead to 6-2. Morgan tripled and scored on a Nussbaum single and Ellis reached on a fielder's choice and scored on a Brian Lane double.
- CBU cut the lead to 6-4 with a two-run eighth. Soto and Angley Holman had RBI singles. The bucks had the tying runs at second and third only to see DSU reliever Hunter Riggins strikeout Larry Hubbard and Jared Cramer to end the inning.
ON THE MOUND (GM 1)
- DSU starter Seth Birdsong (5-0) tossed 7.1 innings recording six strikeouts while allowing four runs on seven hits to get the win.
- Peyton Sanderlin (3-5) gave up six runs on nine hits with five strikeouts as the pitcher of record for CBU.
- Hunter Riggins (2) earned the save, tossing 1.2 scoreless innings in relief of Birdsong with two strikeouts.
HOW IT HAPPENED (GM 2)
- Popovich singled, Ellis drew a walk and Lane singled to load the bases in the bottom of the first. Shannon lifted sac-fly to right to scored Popovich and give the Statesmen an early 1-0 lead.
- The Statesmen added a run in the second to take a 2-0 lead. Morgan singled and scored on a Bradley Sanford groundout with the bases loaded.
- The Statesmen added two runs in the seventh to take a 4-0 lead. Shannon doubled, and Casey had a bunt single to start the bottom of the sixth. Morgan doubled in Shannon and Casey came home on a Nussbaum groundout RBI.
ON THE MOUND (GM 2)
- Dalton Minton (5-1) had six strikeouts against one walk while tossing a two-hit complete game shutout to pick up the win.
- Will Rutledge (0-5) tossed five innings, giving up three runs on eight hits with two walks as the pitcher of record for CBU.
NOTABLES
- Ellis went 2-for-4 with three runs scored and Casey was 2-for-4 with an RBI to lead the Statesmen at the plate.
- The Statesmen tallied their 19th double figure hit game this season, pounding out 11 hits in game one.
- Lane, Shannon, Morgan and Nussbaum had an RBI apiece in game one.
- Minton's complete game was his second complete game of the season and just the second of the season for Statesmen hurlers.
- Morgan was 2-for-3 with an RBI double as the only Statesmen with multiple hits in game two.
- Popovich, Lane, Shannon, Casey, Burney and Nussbaum each had a hit in game two.
- The Statesmen improved to 20-2 when leading after six innings in the doubleheader.
- The 6-4 win in game one improved the Statesmen to 7-2 in games decided by two runs or less.
UP NEXT
Delta State and Christian Brothers University wrap up the three-game series with a single game on Saturday at 2 p.m.
