Seth Birdsong - Lee
Elisabetta Zengaro
5
Winner Delta State DSU 33-7
3
North Alabama UNA 30-13
Winner
Delta State DSU
33-7
5
Final
3
North Alabama UNA
30-13
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Delta State DSU 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 1 0 5 9 3
North Alabama UNA 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 3 1

W: Birdsong, Seth (8-0) L: Tyler Joyner (7-4) S: Riggins, Hunter (3)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Fred Sington

Statesmen Down UNA Behind Birdsong’s Gem

FLORENCE, Ala. – Senior Seth Birdsong tossed eight strong innings with seven strikeouts to lead No. 5/10 Delta State University (33-7, 19-5 GSC) claimed a 5-3 win over the University of North Alabama (30-13, 18-7 GSC) on Friday at Mike Lane Field.

Birdsong's eight innings of work tied his season-high while yielding three runs on three hits.

Score: #5 Delta State 5 | North Alabama 3
Start: 5:00 p.m. | TOG: 3:06
Date/Time: Fri., April 20, 2018
Location: Florence, Ala. | Mike Lane Field
Records: Statesmen 33-7, 19-4 GSC | Lions 30-13, 18-8 GSC
Series: The Statesmen lead the series 56-40 and are 41-14 under Mike Kinnison

HOW IT HAPPENED
  • North Alabama took a 2-0 lead in the first. Tate Mathis singled and moved to third on an error before coming home when Payton Thomas struck out but reached on a throwing error. Davis Elliott's sac-fly scored Thomas.
  • The Statesmen erased the deficit with a four-run fourth to take a 4-2 lead. Clay Casey singled and Matt Majeur walked to start the inning. After a pair of strikeouts, Justin Nussbaum reached on an error to load the bases followed by a walk to Popovich that scored Casey. Majeur scored on a passed ball, Brian Lane was hit by a pitch to score Nussbaum and Popovich scored when Zack Shannon walked.
  • Ben Cooley singled and scored on a Kyle Hubbach sac-fly to left field to cut the DSU lead to 4-3.
  • The Statesmen added an insurance run to extend the lead to 5-3 in the eighth. UNA recorded two quick outs on a double play before Popovich singled and Emil Ellis walked. Brian followed the Ellis walk with an RBI single to score Popovich.
ON THE MOUND
  • Seth Birdsong (8-0) struck out seven Lions while allowing three runs on three hits with five walks through eight innings pitched to pick up the win.
  • Freshman Hunter Riggins (3) had a strikeout and two fly outs to close the game and earn the save.
  • UNA starter Tyler Joyner (7-4) tossed 6.2 innings, giving up four runs, none earned, on five hits with eight walks and eight strikeouts to take the loss.
NOTABLES
  • The win was Birdsong's 18th career win, and he needs two more victories to move into the top 10 on the school's career wins list.
  • Birdsong tied his season-highs with eight innings pitched and seven strikeouts
  • Popovich went 2-for-4 with an RBI and Casey had a pair of singles.
  • Brian Lane had an RBI single and picked up an RBI when he was hit by a pitch for the 21st time this seasons
  • Nussbaum belted a double as the only extra-base hit of the night for the Statesmen while Ellis, Morgan and Nussbaum each had singles.
  • Shannon had one RBI to move into a tie for ninth with Brain Rea (1997-2000) on the career RBIs list with 165.
  • The Statesmen won their fourth straight game and have won the last eight game against the Lions.
UP NEXT
Delta State and North Alabama close out the three-game set with a doubleheader on Sat., at 1 p.m.
 
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