OXFORD, Ala.— Sophomore Hunter Riggins tossed a two-hit, complete game shutout to pitch No. 13 Delta State University baseball (39-12) to its 15^th Gulf South Conference Baseball Championship with 6-0 win over No. 3 the University of West Florida (36-16) on Tuesday at Choccolooco Park. The GSC baseball title is also the third in the last four years and eighth since 2000.
 
Riggins, who was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2019 GSC Tournament, tossed nine innings with four strikeouts and scattered two hits for his second win of the tournament.
 
Darek Sargent and David Herrington joined Riggins on the All-Tournament team.
 
The game was scoreless until the seventh when a sac-fly by Brett Young gave the Statesmen a 1-0 lead before a five-run eighth extended the lead to 6-0.
 
THE BASICS
FINAL: #13 Delta State 6 | #3 West Florida 0
Date/Time: Tues., May 7 2019 | Start: 3:30 pm
Location: Choccolocco Park | Oxford, Ala.
Records: Statesmen 39-12| Argos 36-16
Series: DSU lead 35-28 | 6-4 GSC Tournament

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Statesmen had their first scoring chance, loading the bases with one out in the sixth. Tony Kuccera came on in relief of starter Andrew Viccacio to get a ground out and a fly out to center to end the threat.
• Delta State broke the scoreless tie with a run in the bottom of the seventh. Hayden White singled and Matt Majeur was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. After a strikeout, White slid under the tag attempt at home plate on Brett Young's sac-fly to center field.
• The Statesmen found some breathing room with a five-run eighth to take a 6-0 lead. Jake Barlow and CJ Estave singled with one to start the rally. Barlow scored on a White single and pinch runner Luke Ketchum and White scored on a Michael Allen two-run single to left. Josh Russell reached on an error and scored on a Weber Herbison sac-fly for the final run of the inning.
• Riggins struck out his sixth Argo to start the ninth and got a ground out and fly out to close the game.

ON THE MOUND  

• Hunter Riggins (10-3) had four strikeouts and scattered two hits with three walks over nine scoreless innings to earn his second win of the tournament. Riggins retired 19 of the last 20 Argos, inlcuding 17 straight to finish the game. 
• Kucera (8-2) allowed four runs on five hits with a strikeout to take the loss in relief of starter Viccacio.

NOTABLES

• Riggins was named the GSC Baseball Tournament's Most Outstanding Player and was joined on the All-Tournament team by Sargent and Herrington.
• The Statesmen captured the school's 15^th GSC Baseball Tournament Championship and the eighth under Head Coach Mike Kinnison.
• The GSC baseball title is also the third in the last four years and eighth since 2000.
• Riggins made two starts, both wins, tossing 16 shutout innings with 10 strikeouts and scattering nine hits.
• Herrington hit .464 (13-for-28) with four doubles, four RBIs and three runs scored.
• Sargent finished the tournament with 10 hits, four doubles, and six RBIs.
• Estave hit .450 (9-for-20) with eight RBIs, three runs scored and a home run.
• White finished the championship game 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored followed by Herrington with two hits with an RBI.
• The Statesmen collected their 39^th win of the season and are one win from giving Head Coach Mike Kinnison his 15^th 40-win season.
• The win gives Head Coach Mike Kinnison 978 career wins and needs 22 wins to reach 1,000 wins.

 
UP NEXT

• Delta State will play in the NCAA Division II South Region Baseball Tournament on May 16-19 at a site to be announced on Sunday on NCAA.com at 9 pm (CT).