GAME NOTES vs. ECU
CLEVELAND, Miss. -- No. 11 Delta State University (0-0, 0-0 GSC) opens the 2020 baseball season hosting Great American Conference member East Central University (0-0, 0-0 GSC) for a three-game series on Saturday and Sunday at Harvey Stadium-Ferriss Field. The series starts with a doubleheader at noon on Saturday and concludes with a single game on Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
WELCOME HOME: Delta State's 78th baseball season ushers in a new era with a familiar face in the dugout. Rodney Batts, who was an assistant coach current Athletic Director Mike Kinnison for 13 seasons, returns to his Alma Mater following five seasons at the helm of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College baseball program.  The Columbus, Miss., was introduced as the 10th head Coach on July 8, 2019, becoming just the fourth Statesmen head coach in the 57 years.  Batts joins a distinguished list of former Statesmen who were given the opportunity to lead the program, including Don Ward, Bill Marchant, and Mike Kinnison. All three previous alumni head coaches led the program to at least one NCAA College World Series appearance. Batts, a former All-Gulf South Conference second baseman, played for former Statesmen skipper Bill Marchant during the 1995 and 1996 seasons, batting, .334 with 24 doubles, eight triples, 10 home runs, 86 RBIs and 39 stolen bases during his DSU career.

FOR OPENERS: The Statesmen are 53- 25 on opening day. The Green-and-White have recorded 11 shutouts while only being shutout twice in season openers. Three opening day games have gone extra innings (1948, 1992, 2017) with the last dating back to a 9-7 win over Harding University (2.3.17).

78th SEASON ON THE DIAMOND: Delta State begins its 78th season of baseball with overall record of 2,056-975-11 overall record entering 2020.

RETURNING STATESMEN: Delta State returns four starters in 2020.  Jake Barlow (2B | Jr.), Darek Sargent (Sr. | SS), Hayden White (Jr. | 1B) and CJ Estave (Sr. | DH/C).  Estave led the Statesmen with a .324 batting average, just ahead of Barlow's .322. Estave finished with four doubles, three home runs and 23 RBIs in the designated hitter role. Sargent started 56 games at shortstop, earning GSC All-Tournament honors while batting .296 with 17 doubles, three triples, eight home runs and 55 RBIs. White batted .302 with five doubles, four home runs and 24 RBIs in 52 games, 32 starts at first base. Senior Patrick Hodges had 16 starts at DH, hitting .296 with four doubles, one round-tripper and 12 RBIs.

MOUND SUCCESS: The Delta State pitching staff boasted the nation's lowest ERA at 2.56. Game one starter Hunter Riggins (RHP | Jr.) ireturns along with key bullpen arms Christian Day (Sr.| RHP), Patrick Hodges (RHP) tossed 18.1 innings in 10 relief outings, posting a  2.45 ERA with 12 strikeouts against three walks while allowing five runs on 15 hits.  Senior Christian Day (RHP) made 13 appearances with one start, tallying 22 strikeouts against 17 walks over 26.2 innings.  Kris Peet had a 3.47 ERA in 10 relief appearances with 11 strikeouts, three walks and six runs allowed in 14 innings pitched.  Charlie Darnall (So. | RHP), Layne Tedder (Sr. | LHP), Matthew Sneed (Sr. | RHP), Bailey Hargrave (Sr. | RHP), Payton Griffin (Sr. | RHP) and Parker Caston (Jr. RHP) return after combining for 23.2 relief innings in 2019. 

GSC PRESEASON HONORS: Juniors Jake Barlow and right-hander Hunter Riggins was named to the Preseason All-Gulf South Conference Baseball team.

Barlow earned All-GSC, All-South Region (ABCA, D2CCA, NCBWA) and All-American honors in 2019, finishing second on the team with a .322 average, while leading 11 home runs (3rd GSC), five triples (1st GSC | 23rd NCAA), 47 runs scored (T5th GSC), and a .588 slugging percentage (6th GSC). The Jonesville, La., native was also second on the team with 68 hits (5th GSC), 13 doubles (11th GSC) and 53 RBI (6th GSC). Balow tied for third in the GSC turning 29 of the Statesmen's 40 double plays.

Riggins also earned All-GSC, All-South Region (ABCA, D2CCA, NCBWA) and All-American (ABCA, NCBWA, D2CCA) led the GSC with a 1.88 ERA (9th NCAA) and 110 innings pitched while tying with teammate Dalton Minton for first in the GSC (9th NCAA) with 11 wins (11-4). The Hernando, Miss., native ranked fifth in strikeouts (82) and third in strikeouts looking (24) while allowing 43 runs, 23 earned, on 97 hits.

GSC PRESEASON NEWCOMERS: The Statesmen welcome 17 newcomers that include 12 junior college and five four-year school transfers.  Myles Christian (IF/OF, Middle Tennessee State) and Tanner Propst (LHP/Louisiana Tech) were listed on the GSC Newcomers list.  

GSC COACHES POLL: Delta State University edged out the University of West Florida as the favorite in the Gulf South Conference Preseason Baseball Coaches Poll released on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2020. The Statesmen received four first-place votes for 130 points followed by West Florida with 130 points and five first-place votes. Mississippi College (123) is third with Valdosta State (111), Alabama Huntsville (98), Montevallo (87), West Georgia (77), Auburn-Montgomery (63), Lee (58) and West  Alabama (55) rounding out the top 10.

NCBWA ALL-REGION: Jake Barlow and pitcher Hunter Riggins was selected to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Preseason All-South Region team announced.  Riggins and Barlow were named to the Preseason All-Gulf South Conference squad last week.

NCBWA RANKINGS: The Statesmen start the 2020 season ranked second behind defending NCAA Division II National Champion Tampa while Nova Southeastern and West Florida are tied for third behind the Statesmen. Florida Southern is fifth followed by Mississippi College, Valdosta State, Embry-Riddle, Florida Tech and Barry (Fla) University.

NEWEST STAFF MEMBER: Fans will see a new face occupying the third base coaches box in 2020 with the addition of David Steed to the coaching staff Steed, who comes to Delta State from the University of West Alabama, will serve as the hitting and catchers' coach. He replaces Slater Lott, who recently resigned to pursue other coaching opportunities. The Starkville, Miss., native spent the past 11 seasons as an assistant coach for Gary Rundles and the Tigers in Livingston. His responsibilities included working with hitters, recruiting, and weight training. During his time with UWA, the Tigers captured the 2015 Gulf South Conference championship and made four trips to the NCAA Division II South Region Tournament. UWA had four Tigers selected in the Major League Baseball Draft including Gandy Stubblefield (Phillies/2015), Tanner Rainey (Reds/2015), J.T. Salter (Mariners/2018) and Steffon Moore (Rays/2018).

STATESMEN vs. the GAC: The Statesmen are 372-85 record against the Great American Athletic Conference.  Arkansas Monticello, Arkansas Tech, Ouachita Baptist and Henderson State are on the 2019 Statesmen Schedule.