GAME NOTES: Union University at Delta State
CLEVLEAND, Miss. -- No. 10/7 Delta State University (9-0, 0-0 GSC) hosts
Union University (6-3, 0-0 GSC) for a Gulf South Conference series beginning with a doubleheader on Sunday, Feb. 24 at 1 p.m. at Harvey Stadium-Ferriss Field. The series will conclude with a single game on Monday, Feb. 25 at 2 p.m.
HERRINGTON EARNS PAIR OF WEEKLY HONORS: David Herrington was named the GSC and NCBWA South Region Player of the Week. Herrington helped the No. 10/7 Statesmen to a 4-0 week, including a three-game sweep of Montevallo. The Senatobia, Miss., native hit .526 (10-for-19) and slugged .632 with a triple and seven RBIs. The senior third baseman had multiple hits in each game, including an RBI single that proved to be the game-winning RBI in a 2-1 win against UAM. The senior also had a bases-clearing triple to break a 2-2 tie to help DSU to an 8-4 in game three against Montevallo.
SCHEDULE ADJUSTMENTS: Weather has forced a few schedule changes to the 2019 Statesmen baseballs schedule. Sun., Feb. 10th game at Ouachita Baptist has been rescheduled for a doubleheader at 1 p.m. on Tues., March 12 in Arkadelphia, Ark. Delta State's Wed., Feb. 20 game at Mississippi Valley State is rescheduled for Tuesday, April 9 at 2 p.m. in Itta Bena, Miss.
STATESMEN ARMS: The Statesmen pitching staff has gotten off to a strong start, leading the GSC in ERA (1.07), fewest runs allowed (15), opponent batting average (.142), fewest walks (28), and saves (6) while ranking 2nd in strikeouts (71).
Hunter Riggins leads the GSC in ERA (.046), strikeouts (27), wins (3), and earned runs allowed (1) and is 4th in opponent batting average (.145) and innings pitched (19.2).
Dalton Minton ranks 1st in the GSC in opponent batting average (.071) and
Tommy Childree leads the GSC in saves (4).
Melvin Frazier is 7th in strikeouts (23) and tied for 2nd in wins (2).
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS: The Bulldogs enter the weekend with a 6-3 record following a 7-2 loss to Arkansas Tech that snapped a four-game winning streak. Nolen Milton ranks 7th in the GSC with a .417 average five doubles, a home run and eight RBIs. Caleb DeMarigny and Josh Frantz follow Milton with a .333 average. Logan Portis (1-0, 4.20 ERA, 16 K, 5 BB, 7 R, 7 ER, 13 H, 15 IP), Brandon Maxwell (1-0, 0.75 ERA, 8 Ks, 5 BB, 3 R, 1 ER, 9 H, 12 IP)and Ryan Mets (1-1, 5.79 ERA, 11 Ks, 9 BB, 9 R, 9 ER, 13 H, 15 IP) have the most starts on the mound for the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs are hitting .239 as a team and has a 6.15 ERA entering the weekend series.
STATESMEN REWIND: The Statesmen went 4-0 which included a midweek win over Arkansas-Monticello and a three-game GSC series sweep of Montevallo. In game one of the series,
Josh Russell and
David Herrington combined for six hits and five RBIs to help the Statesmen to an 8-1 win over Montevallo at Johnson Field. Russell went 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs while Herrington was 3-for-5 with two RBIs.
Dalton Minton recorded six strikeouts and allowed one hit over five scoreless innings in his first start of the season. The Statesmen finished the series with a doubleheader of Montevallo by the scores of 11-1 and 8-4 on Saturday.
Hunter Riggins struck out 12 and allowed one run on six hits and
Jake Barlow went 3-for-5 with a grand slam home run in game one. Herrington went 3-for-4 with a triple and four RBIs while
Melvin Frazier struck out eight Falcons to lead the Green-and-White to the game two win.
GSC NUMBERS: David Herrington leads the GSC in hits (18) and is tied for first in batting average (.500) and ranks 2nd in on base percentage (.571) while
Jake Barlow's two triples are tied atop the GSC entering the Union series. The Statesmen are tied for 1st in team batting average (.289), rank third in fewest strikeouts (55) strikeouts are 2nd in triples (3) in the GSC.
QUEST FOR 1000: Statesmen skipper
Mike Kinnison is in his 23rd season at the helm and needs 52 wins to reach 1000 wins. The Benton, Miss., native has an unbelievable career record of 948-299-2 (.756), averaging 42.4 wins per season as head coach. His all-time career record, including high school, is an astounding 1,238-382-2 (.768).
BEST START SINCE 2013 The Statesmen are off to a 9-0 start for the first time since 2013 when the Green-and-White started 11-0 that season. Delta State finished 44-11-1 overall record and a 19-4-1 GSC mark, falling to Valdosta State, 5-4, in the GSC title game in Carrollton, Ga. The Statesmen went on to go 2-2 in the NCAA South Regional in Tampa, Fla.
OUT OF THE PEN The Statesmen bullpen has been just as solid as the Statesmen starters so far in 2019. DSU relievers have a 1.20 ERA with 36 strikeouts against 12 walks while allowing eight runs, four earned, on 14 hits in 30.0 innings. Opponents are batting a cool .132 against DSU relievers.
Tommy Childree (RHP) leads the GSC with 4 saves while
Christian Day and
Dalton Minton each have a save. In four games last week against Montevallo and Arkansas Monticello, the DSU pen posted a 0.71 ERA with 11 strikeouts against two walks while allowing three runs, one earned on eight hits in 12 innings of work.
77th SEASON ON THE DIAMOND Delta State begins its 77th season and has an overall record of 2,023-963-11 all-time record entering 2019.
