CLEVELAND, Miss. –  Zack Shannon and Clay Casey hit home runs and drove in seven runs to lead No. 5/8 Delta State University (28-6, 17-3 GSC) to an 11-3 win over Union University (11-25, 6-15 GSC) in the nightcap of a doubleheader on Sunday at Fesmire Field.

Shannon, who finished 5-for-8 with five RBIs in the doubleheader, delivered an RBI single in the 10^th inning to help the Statesmen claim game one 4-3.

GM 1 Score: #5/8 Delta State 4 | Union University 3 (10 inn.).
GM 1 Start: 1:01 p.m. | TOG: 3:20
GM 2 Score: #5/8 Delta State 13 | Union University 3
GM 2 Start: 5:00 p.m. | TOG: 2:21
Date/Time: Sun., April 8, 2018
Location: Jackson, Tenn. | Fesmire Field
Records: Statesmen 28-6, 17-3 GSC | Bulldogs 11-26, 6-15 GSC
Series: Statesmen lead series 38-12 and 23-6 under Kinnison

HOW IT HAPPENED (GM 1)

• Delta State took a 1-0 lead in the first. Emil Ellis reached on an error and after stealing second scored on Zack Shannon's single to left center to put the Statesmen in front 1-0.
• The Bulldogs grabbed a 2-1 lead with a pair of runs on three hits in the bottom of the first. Chase Diggs singled and scored on a Spencer Schultz single and David Robins singled and scored when Nolen Milton reached on a fielder's choice.
• Eli Thibado reached on a fielder's choice and moved to second on a Jesse Kelly sac-bunt. Diggs singled up the middle to plate Thibado and give UU a 3-1 lead.
• The Statesmen cut the deficit to 3-2 in the third. Brian Lane doubled and scored on a Shannon singled to center.
• Juwan Burney and Nick Morgan singled with one out in the fourth to set up a Jason Popovich two-out RBI single to centerfield that scored Burney to tie the game 3-3.
• The Statesmen loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth but a double play and a strikeout ended the threat.
• Union loaded the bases in the eighth only to see reliever Hunter Riggins got a strikeout and a groundout to end the inning.
• The Statesmen pushed the go-ahead run across in the 10^th Popovich walked and Ellis singled before moving up a base on a wild pitch. Following a groundout, Shannon singled through the left side of the infield to score Ellis and give the Statesmen a 3-2 lead.

ON THE MOUND (GM 1)

• Riggins (2-1) scattered three hits over 2.2 innings with four strikeouts and a walk to earn the win.
• Skylar Harrison (2-6) gave up one run on two hits with a strikeout in one inning of work as the pitcher of record for the Bulldogs.
• DSU starter Dalton Minton worked 7.1 innings with seven strikeouts while allowing three runs on six hits but did not figure in the decision. Minton's seven strikeouts marked the sixth time this season he has notched at least six strikeouts in a start.
• Union starter Marty Coursey tossed nine innings, giving up three runs, two earned, with seven strikeouts and five walks.

HOW IT HAPPENED (GM 2)

• The Statesmen broke out on top with a run in the first inning. Ellis singled with one out followed by a Shannon single with two outs. Ellis came home on a Casey single through the left side.
• Union tied the game 1-1 in the bottom of the second when Hayden Lewis walked with bases-loaded walk.
• Shannon belted a two-run home run to right field with Ellis on base with a single to put the Statesmen up 3-1 in the third.  
• The Bulldogs tied the game on a Josh Bovoian two-run home run to left in the third.
• Delta State scored four runs in the top of the fifth to break the tie and take a 7-3 lead. Juwan Burney delivered a two-run double that scored Ellis and Shannon and David Herrington singled home Casey and Burney.
• The Statesmen added five runs in the sixth to take a 12-3 lead. Lane doubled in a run and Casey launched a grand slam to left to highlight the inning.
• Bradley Sanford walked and scored on a Lane single in the top of the seventh to make it 13-3.

ON THE MOUND (GM 2)

• Tyler Walton (5-0) picked up the win in relief of starter Melvin Frazier. Walton worked four scoreless and hitless innings with five strikeouts and no walks.  
• Union's Scott Shearer (4-7) allowed 12 runs, eight earned, on 11 hits with three strikeouts in 5.2 innings pitched to suffer the loss.
• Jason Lott pitched a scoreless seventh with three strikeouts to finish things for the Green-and-White.

NOTABLES

• The Statesmen improved to 3-1 in extra inning games and 5-2 in one-run games after game one.
• Statesmen pitchers struck out nine Union hitters which the most since striking out 12 against Mississippi Valley (3.21).
• Shannon went 3-for-5 with three RBIs in game one and xx-xx with a home run and two RBIs in game two. Shannon moved past Eli Whiteside (1991-2001) for 12^th on the DSU career RBIs list with 156. while recording three RBIs for the sixth time this season.
• Popovich, Casey and Ellis had two hits apiece in game one for the Statesmen.
• Delta State left 16 runners on base, 10 in scoring position in game one.
• Shannon's third-inning home run in game two was his 22^nd this season and 41^st career round-tripper. Shannon is tied for second in single-season home runs with Dee Haynes (2000) and for second in career home runs with Jud Thigpen (2001-2004).
• Casey's grand slam was his second of the season and the sixth of the year by the Statesmen. The Melbourne, Fla., native has 10 home runs on the season and 27^th of his career, moving him into eighth in career home runs.
• Casey finished 2-for-5 with five RBIs followed by Shannon with a home run and two RBIs. Burney had two doubles and two RBIs and Herrington finished with two hits and two RBIs to lead the Statesmen in game two.
• Ellis and Lane also had two hits in game two.
• The Statesmen 14 hits in game one and 13 hits in game two, recording double-digit hits for 17 and 18^th times this season.

UP NEXT
Delta State travels to play Harding University on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Searcy, Ark.