GAME NOTES: Delta State Baseball at Alabama Huntsville (2.15-16.2020)
CLEVELAND, Miss. -- No. 11 Delta State University opens Gulf South Conference play on the road against the University of Alabama Huntsville starting with a doubleheader on Sat., Feb. 15 at 1 p.m. and wrapping up with a single game on Sunday at 1 p.m. in Huntsville, Ala. The Chargers won last year's series 2-1, falling 6-4 in game one before capturing identical 5-3 wins in the final two games in Cleveland, Miss.
GSC OPENERS: The Statesmen are 26-15 in GSC openers and will begin GSC play on the road for the third straight year. The Statesmen opened the 2019 GSC slate with an 8-1 win at Montevallo on the way a three-game sweep of the Falcons. Delta State swept Valdosta State to open the 2018 conference schedule in Valdosta, Ga.
GSC WEEKLY HONOR: Delta State University baseball player
Chad Ragland was named the GSC Player of the Week on Tues., Feb. 11, his first such honor. The Jacksonville, Fla., native hit .455 (5-for-11) and scored four runs out of the leadoff spot for the Statesmen. Ragland also walked three times and was hit by a pitch twice to register a .625 on base percentage. The junior outfielder went 4-for-5 with two runs scored in Delta State's series-opening 7-6 win over Lynn. In game two of the series, Ragland walked twice, was hit by a pitch, scored a run and stole a base in a 13-4 win. He then followed that up with a 1-for-3 performance in game three that included a walk, a run scored and a stolen base. Ragland also reached base via a hit-by-pitch for the second time in the series. Ragland is the second Statesmen in as many weeks to earn GSC Weekly laurels after
Hunter Riggins was named GSC Pitcher of the Week in week one.
FIRST START HOMERS: Three Statesmen have hit home runs in their first career starts.
Jared Cramer,
Kevin Granger and
Myles Christian belted round-trippers in their first starts as Statesmen. Cramer's home run highlighted a two-run fifth inning that cut a three-run deficit to 4-3 in game two verus East Central. Granger's first career home run tied game three of the series, 4-4 in the sixth inning on the way to the Statesmen's 8-6 win. Christian's home run broke a tie in the eighth inning which was followed by a
Hayden White homer that gave DSU an 8-6 lead.
GOING WITH TWO: The Statesmen have scored 17 of their 52 runs scored with outs and have 12 two-out RBI.
Hayden White has four two-out RBI and
Wyatt Pratt has three two-out RBI.
Jake Barlow,
Jared Cramer,
CJ Estave,
Darek Sargent and
Blake Wolferding have one two-out
RBI apiece.
WALK OFFS: A pair of walk off wins highlighted the series sweep of visiting Lynn University last weekend at Harvey Stadium-Ferriss Field.
Blake Wolferding's RBI single to left field scored
Will Myers to give the Statesmen a 7-6 game one win. Tied 6-6 in the ninth, pinch hitter
Landon Roberts hit a missile off the wall in left field to give DSU a 7-6 win in game three.
WELCOME HOME: Rodney Batts begins a new era for DSU baseball but is a very familiar face in the Statesmen dugout. Batts, who was an assistant coach under
Mike Kinnison for 13 seasons, returns to his alma mater after five seasons at the helm of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College baseball program. The Columbus, Miss., native was introduced as the 10th head coach on July 8, 2019, becoming just the fourth Statesmen head coach in the last 57 years. Batts joins a distinguished list of former Statesmen 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.
78th SEASON ON THE DIAMOND: Delta State begins its 78th season of baseball, boasting an overall record of 2,061-976-11 overall record entering 2020.
STATESMEN vs. SWAC: The Statesmen are 100-20-1 against South Western Athletic Conference members. vs. SWAC: 2-2 vs. Alcorn State | 11-2 vs. Jackson State | 87-16-1 vs. Mississippi Valley State.
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, starting 32 $ $at first base. Senior
Patrick Hodges had 16 starts at DH, hitting .296 with four doubles, one round-tripper and 12 RBIs.
R ON THE BUMP: The Delta State pitching staff boasted the
nation's lowest ERA at 2.56. Game one starter
Hunter Riggins (RHP | Jr.) returns 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 17newcomers 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.
RGSC COACHES POLL: Delta State University edged out theUniversity 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 NEWS: 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.
STEED JOINS DSU STAFF: Fans will see a new face occupying thethird 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 CLAIM 15TH GSC TITLE: Hunter Riggins tossed a complete game two-hit shutout with four strikeouts to toss No. 13 Delta State University baseball to its 15th GSC Baseball Championship with 6-0 win over No. 3 West Florida on Tues., May 7, 2019 in Oxford, Ala. The GSC baseball title is the 3rd in the last four years andthe 8th since 2000. Delta State broke a 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 at home plate on a
Brett Young sac-fly to center. 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 out to start the rally. Barlow scored on a White single and pinch runner
Luke Ketchum and White scored on a
Michael Allen single.
Josh Russell reached on an error and scored on a
Weber Herbison sac-fly to cap the scoring.
