CLEVELAND, Miss. – The Delta State University baseball team drove in 20 runs on 16 hits to defeat the Ouachita Baptist 20-13 in a midweek non-conference contest, on Tuesday, at Harvey Stadium-Ferriss Field.
 
With the win, the Statesmen earned their 50^th win over the Tigers in series history.
 
Seniors Emil Ellis, Clay Casey, and Jason Popovich combined for nine of Delta State's 20 RBIs, while Ellis, Brian Lane, Bradley Sanford and David Herrington each scored three runs apiece.
 
Final: No. 3 DSU 20 | OBU 13
Start: 6 p.m. | TOG: 3:33
Date/Time: Tuesday, April 24, 2018
Location: Cleveland, Miss. | Harvey Stadium-Ferriss Field
Records: Statesmen 36-7 | Tigers 13-34 
Series: Delta State leads 50-16
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Statesmen struck first when Emil Ellis scored on a dropped fly in the bottom of the first.
• The Tigers responded with a four-run rally in the top of the second to take a three-run lead. Tee Collier started the rally with a two RBI double, and Jakahari Howell tripled to left center, scoring Collier and Cable McBride.
• In the bottom of the second, the Statesmen scored six runs on six hits to erase the deficit. David Herrington scored the first run of the inning on an RBI single by Jason Popovich. Ellis singled, scoring Justin Nussbaum. Brian Lane's two RBI double leveled the score, 4-4. Ellis then scored on a sac-fly from Zach Shannon, to put the Statesmen up, 5-4. Matthew Majeur singled to left field, driving in Lane for the sixth and final run of the inning.
• OBU took the lead in the top of the third with a pair of 2-RBI singles from McBride and Aaron Studdard.
• Delta State scored seven runs in the bottom half of the inning to retake the lead. Ellis doubled to center field, plating Popovich and Bradley Sanford. Clay Casey singled to drive in Ellis for the third run. Lane scored the fourth run on a fielder's choice. Herrington doubled, scoring Shannon for the fifth run. An error by the second baseman scored Herrington and Majeur for the final runs of the inning.
• The Statesmen added another four runs in the bottom of the fourth to cushion their lead. Casey's 2-RBI double put Delta State up 16-8. With the bases loaded, Sanford walked bringing in Casey for DSU's 17^th run of the game. Herrington scored on a fielder's choice to give DSU a 10-run lead.
• A pair of RBI singles from Popovich and Darek Sargent put the Statesmen up 20-8 in the bottom of the sixth.
• The Tiger offense remained dormant for three innings, but reignited in the top of the seventh. Ty Owens singled, driving home McBride for OBU's ninth run of the game. Chandler Blake followed with a sac fly that scored Logan Huneycutt. Tyler Reibock belted a three-run home run, to score the final runs of the contest.

 
ON THE MOUND

• Melvin Fraizer earned the win to improve to 5-0. Fraizer entered the game in the top of the fourth in relief of Tyler Walton. In two innings of work, he struck out three and gave up just two hits. Starting pitcher Andy Borries received a no decision. In two innings, he gave up five runs, all earned, on four hits, and struck out three.
• Noah Fowler suffered the loss for OBU and falls to 0-3. He gave up five runs, all eared, on four hits across two innings. Of OBU's six pitchers, Luke Scaggs was the only Tiger not to give up a run. Scaggs tossed two innings in relief and gave up just one hit.  

 
NOTBALES

• Shannon tallied his 168^th RBI.  
• The Statesmen have now won the past seven games.
• Today's win marks the Statesmen's 22^nd win of the season when scoring 10 runs or more.
• All of Delta State's starting nine drove in at least one run. Five Statesmen had multi-RBI games.
• Delta State's five doubles tied the second most in a single game this season.

 
UP NEXT
The Statesmen host the Choctaws of Mississippi College for a three-game conference series beginning with a doubleheader at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 28, and ending with a single game on Sunday, April 29, at 2 p.m.