CLEVELAND, Miss. – Statesmen baseball wins game one of an important midweek series against Arkansas Tech thanks to contributions from all over the diamond. Pitchers Cade Whitley, Logan Cromer, and Josh Hill put on an excellent performance on the hill as Brendan McCauley's first home run proved to be the deciding factor.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Delta State 2 | Arkansas Tech 1
Location: Cleveland, MS | Ferriss Field at Harvey Stadium
Records: Statesmen (13-13, 7-5 GSC) | Wonder Boys (19-8, 12-3 GAC)
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HOW IT HAPPENED

• Arkansas Tech stranded the bases loaded in the top of the first. Delta State put runners at the corners with one away, but a 5-4-3 double play ended the scoring threat. Tech picked up a hit in the second, but the runner was caught attempting to steal second base to end the inning. Brendan McCauley put the Statesmen on the board first with a two-run homer to left that also scored Hayden Cooper. 2-0 Delta State after 2.
• The Wonder Boys fell in order in the third inning. Delta State received a walk and an HBP, but couldn't score either in the third. Two hits plated the first ATU run in the top of the fourth, the Statesmen fell in order in their half of the inning. 2-1 Delta State after 4.
• Delta State's Clowers drew a walk in the fifth and was the only base runner for either team in the inning. Both teams stranded a runner in the sixth. 2-1 Statesmen after 6.
• Both teams picked up a hit in the seventh and stranded a runner. Tech had two on with one away in the eighth, but a pickoff at first by catcher Matthew Nichols and line-drive snag by McCauley at second deflated the ATU momentum. Delta State fell in order in the eighth. Josh Hill picked up the save, striking out two in the ninth to secure the DSU win. 2-1 Delta State Final.

ON THE MOUND

• Starter Cade Whitley (W, 1-0) picked up his first win of the season. He pitched 6.1 innings, allowing only one run on five hits with five strikeouts to two walks.
• Logan Cromer pitched 1.0 inning, allowing no runs on one hit with a K.
• Josh Hill (S, 3) picked up his third save of the season. He pitched the final 1.2 innings, allowing no runs or hits and striking out two batters in the ninth.

UP NEXT
Delta State is back at home tomorrow (Wed 3/22) for one last game against Arkansas Tech. The Statesmen return to GSC play this Friday, 3/24, with a three-game series at Auburn-Montgomery.