CLEVELAND, Miss. -- Hunter Riggins tossed eight strong innings with eight strikeouts to lead the Delta State University baseball team (9-10, 7-10 GSC) to a 5-1 win over Union University (8-10, 7-10 GSC) in game one of a doubleheader on Saturday at Harvey Stadium-Ferriss Field.
The Statesmen erupted for eight runs in the fifth inning to erase a two-run deficit on the way to a 12-8 win in the nightcap.
In game one, Riggins gave up one run on three hits with three strikeouts and two walks on the afternoon.
THE BASICS
GM 1 FINAL: Delta State 5 | Union University 1
GM 2 FINAL: Delta State 12 | Union University 8
DATE/TIME: Saturday, March 20, 2021
GM 1 START: 1 p.m. |
TOG: 2:48
GM 2 START: 4:15 p.m. |
TOG: 3:15
LOCATION: Harvey Stadium-Ferriss Field | Cleveland, Miss.
RECORDS: Statesmen: 9-10, 7-10 GSC | Bulldogs 8-10, 7-10 GSC
SERIES: Delta State leads the 43-12 | 22-6 in Cleveland
HOW IT HAPPENED (GM 1)
- Josh Smeltzer's sac-fly plated Hayden White to put the Statesmen out in front 1-0 in the first inning.
- White and Jake Barlow came through with RBI singles in the second to push the lead to 3-0.
- Union cut the DSU lead to 3-1 when Patrick Music reached on a fielder's choice that scored A'Darius Pugh, who reached on an error.
- Darek Sargent led off the sixth with a double and scored on a Kirkland Trahan single to make the score 4-1.
- Wolferding singled and scored on a White Single through the left side to give the Statesmen a 5-1 lead heading into the ninth inning.
- Union loaded the bases in the ninth but Statesmen closer TJ Childree got a strikeout and induced a double play to end the game.
ON THE MOUND (GM 1)
- Hunter Riggins (2-3) earned the win, allowing one run on three hits with eight strikeouts over eight innings pitched.
- Walker Adkisson (1-3) gave up four runs on nine hits with four strikeouts and three walks to as the losing pitcher for Lee.
- Childree (2) worked the Statesmen out of a bases loaded jam in the ninth, recording a strikeout and a double play for the save.
HOW IT HAPPENED (GM 2)
- The Statesmen struck for four runs in the first inning to build a quick 4-0 advantage. Ragland doubled and scored on a Smeltzer sac-fly and White walked and scored on a Barlow single. Barlow came around on a Wolferding double and Wolferding scored on a throwing error.
- Union got three runs back in the top of the second to trim the DSU lead to 4-3. Ryan Lee drew a bases loaded walk and Slater Schield reached on a fielder's choice to score the second run. Trey Frierson singled home Jake Baker to make it a one-run game.
- Union took a 6-4 lead in the fourth on a Lee three-run home run.
- The Statesmen exploded for eight runs in the fifth to erase the deficit and take a 12-6 lead. Trahan doubled and Smeltzer singled to start the inning. Barlow singled home Trahan and Smeltzer and Barlow scored on a Wolferding two-run triple. Kade Dees doubled in Wolferding and Dees scored on a Sargent single. White doubled home Sargent and Ragland, who reached on an error.
- Union scored two runs on RBI singles by Baker and Lee before Patrick Hodges got a strikeout out with the bases loaded to end the game.
ON THE MOUND (GM 2)
- Charlie Darnall (1-0) gave up one hit with four strikeouts and three walks over four scoreless innings to earn the win for the Statesmen.
- Luke Williamson (1-3) was saddled with the loss for Union, allowing seven runs, six earned, on six hits with five strikeouts and three walks in four innings pitched.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Trahan went 3-for-3 with one RBI in game one.
- White was 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored in game one.
- Ragland went 3-for-5 from the leadoff spot in game one.
- Wolferding drove in three runs with double and a triple in game two.
- White, Smeltzer, and Barlow had drove in two runs apiece in game two.
- The Statesmen improved to 22-6 against Union at Harvey Stadium-Ferriss Field.
UP NEXT
Delta State and Union University wrap up the series with a single game on Sunday, March 21 at 2 p.m.