GAME NOTES: Delta State vs. Lynn University (2.7-8.2020)
CLEVELAND, Miss. -- No. 11 Delta State University hosts Sunshine State Conference member Lynn University for a three-game set on Friday and Saturday at Harvey Stadium-Ferriss Field. The series starts with a single game on Friday at 3 p.m. followed by a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m.
 
GSC WEEKLY HONOR: Delta State University junior hurler Hunter Riggins was named the Gulf South Conference Pitcher of the Week for Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020. The Hernando, Miss., native tossed five shutout innings with eight strikeouts against one walk while scattering three hits. Riggins did not allow an extra-base hit and earned the season-opening win over East Central University.

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     under 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., 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.

NICE DEBUTS:  Nine players saw their first playing time in a Statesmen uniform in the East Central series.  Wyatt Pratt had three starts at third base, batting .545 (6-for-11) with five runs scored, two doubles and two RBIs.  Blake Wolferding started three games in the outfield, hitting .500 (5-for-10) with four runs scored and two RBIs. Chad Ragland shined in the leadoff spot, hitting .462 (6-for-13) with an RBI double. Jared Cramer started two games behind the plate, hitting .429 with a home run and four RBI. On the Mound, Jackson Rutledge made his first start, with four strikeouts but was saddled with four unearned runs in 4.1 innings. Cooper Brune had five strikeouts over 4.0 innings while giving up two runs on six hits in game three of the ECU series. Louisiana Tech transfer Tanner Propst tossed 1.2 innings, notching three strikeouts in 1.2 innings in game two and Kole Kittrell allowed two hits in one shutout inning of relief.

GIVE'EM THE BALL:  Senior catcher Jared Cramer and outfielder Kevin Granger belted their first home runs in a Statesmen uniform in the ECU series.  Cramer's fifth-inning home run  highlighted a two-run fifth inning that cut a three-run deficit to 4-3.  Granger's first career home run tied the game 4-4- in the sixth inning en route to the Statesmen's 8-6 game three win.

AGAINST THE SSC:  Delta State is 4-2-1 against Lynn University, most recently falling 7-0 to open the 2018 season at the Lynn University Baseball Field in Boca Raton, Fla. The Statesmen are 27-27 all-time against the Sunshine State Conference.  SSC BREAKDOWN; Barry (2-0), Eckerd (1-0), Florida Southern (10-9), Lynn (4-2-1), North Florida (1-1), Nova Southeastern (9-5), Palm Beach Atlantic (3-4).

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.

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 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 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.

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.