CLEVELAND, Miss. – Dalton Minton tied a career-high with eight strikeouts in seven shutout innings to help No. 5/7 Delta State University (38-8, 23-5 GSC) claim a 2-0 win over rival Mississippi College (29-15, 18-10 GSC) on Senior Day at Harvey Stadium-Ferriss Field on Sunday.
Delta State baseball honored seniors
Emil Ellis (2B),
Jason Popovich (CF),
Jamell Newson (OF),
Justin Nussbaum (SS),
Nick Morgan (3B),
Jonathan Lindsey (P),
Brian Lane (C/DH),
Peyton White (P),
Tyler Milligan (P),
Jason Lott (P),
Tyler Brown (OF),
Andy Borries (P),
Clay Casey (RF),
Zack Shannon (1B),
Seth Birdsong (P) and
Juwan Burney (IF/OF) prior to Sunday's game.
Lane had two hits, including an RBI single in the seventh to extend the Statesmen lead to 2-0.
Score: #5/7 Delta State 2 | Mississippi College 0
Start: 2 p.m. |
TOG: 2:49
Date/Time: Sun., April 29, 2018
Location: Cleveland, Miss. | Harvey Stadium-Ferriss Field
Records: Statesmen 38-8, 23-5 GSC | Choctaws 29-15, 18-10 GSC)
Series: The Statesmen lead the series 121-42-2 and are 8-4 against MC under
Mike Kinnison
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Statesmen took advantage of a Mississippi College error to take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth. Juwan Burney walked to lead off the inning and Justin Nussbaum reached on a fielder's choice. During the play, the throw to second base by the MC second basemen got past the short stop and into shallow left field allowed Burney to score from first base.
- Mississippi College loaded the bases in the top of the sixth only to see DSU starter Dalton Minton record a strikeout and a groundout to end the threat.
- The lead grew to 2-0 in the seventh. Jason Popovich walked and came around to score on a Brian Lane single to left.
- Mississippi College put a runner on base in the ninth but reliever Hunter Riggins got a strikeout and a ground out to preserve the shutout.
ON THE MOUND
- Minton (8-1) scattered seven hits and tied a career-high with eight strikeouts in seven scoreless innings to earn the win.
- Chris Crosby (5-4) gave up two runs, one earned, on five hits with six strikeouts and eight walks as the pitcher of record for the Choctaws.
- Riggins (5) put up zeros in the eighth and ninth innings with a strikeout while yielding two hits for the save.
NOTABLES
- Popovich went 2-for-4 with a run scored and Lane was 2-for-5 with an RBIs single to lead the Statesmen.
- Zack Shannon, Josh Russell and Nussbaum also recorded hits for DSU.
- The shutout was the third shutout this season by the Statesmen and the first since a 15-0 shutout of Harding (3.13).
- Seniors Emil Ellis (2B), Jason Popovich (CF), Jamell Newson (OF), Justin Nussbaum (SS), Nick Morgan (3B), Jonathan Lindsey (P), Brian Lane (C/DH), Peyton White (P), Tyler Milligan (P), Jason Lott (P), Tyler Brown (OF), Andy Borries (P), Clay Casey (RF), Zack Shannon (1B), Seth Birdsong (P) and Juwan Burney (IF/OF) prior to Sunday's game against MC.
UP NEXT
No. 1 seed Delta State will play No. 8 seed the University of West Alabama to open action in the 2018 Gulf South Conference Baseball Championship at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 5 at Harvey Stadium-Ferriss Field.