Montgomery, Ala. – Delta State trailed for the entire game on Saturday afternoon until the top of the ninth when a 2 RBI double by Brendan McCauley scored the go-ahead run. Outfielder Kirkland Trahan contributed three solo home runs to the Delta State effort as the Statesmen win the series in dramatic fashion.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Delta State 7 | Auburn Montgomery 6
Location: Montgomery, AL | AUM Baseball Complex
Records: Statesmen (16-14, 9-6 GSC) | Warhawks (12-19, 7-11 GSC)
Get Social: @DeltaStateBSB

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Jonathan Dewberry hit a single to lead off the game for the Statesmen and used a pair of groundouts to move to third base. He scored the first DSU run after a wild pitch. AUM's leadoff batter was walked and came in to score on a one-out RBI double by the Warkhawk three-hole hitter. He also scored on a sac fly later in the inning. 2-1 AUM after 1.
• Delta State stranded a Matthew Nichols walk in the second and the Warhawks fell in order. DSU sent only three to the plate in the third. The Warhawks stranded two after a hit and a walk in the third. Kirkland Trahan hit his first home run of the game in the fourth, a solo oppo taco to left-center. Eric Newsom blasted his third homer of the series to right-center two batters later. However, the Warhawks used four hits in the fourth to regain the lead. A potential third run was thwarted at home plate as AUM attempted to score on an errant throw. 4-3 AUM after 4.
• Both teams stranded two runners in the fifth, including two in scoring position with one out for DSU after a double by Brendan McCauley. However, the Warhawks had a leadoff hit-by-pitch come around to score in their half of the inning. 5-3 AUM after 5.
• Trahan led the DSU sixth with his second home run of the game to trim the deficit, but two more AUM hits and an RBI sac fly pushed the Warhawk lead back to two. 6-4 AUM after 6.
• DSU loaded the bases with one away in the seventh, but a double play ended the scoring threat. AUM stranded a runner in the seventh as well. Trahan's third homer of the game led off the eighth, put the Statesmen back within a run, and was the only score of the inning. 6-5 AUM after 8.
• A leadoff walk to Hayden Cooper and a single by Carson Clowers put runners at first and second for the Statesmen to start the ninth. With Rodney Hibler running for Cooper, a sac bunt by Dewberry put the two runners in scoring position with one out. The next batter, McCauley, hit the 2-1 pitch deep to right field. He was caught attempting to stretch the hit into a double, but the damage was done as the Statesmen had regained the lead on his 2 RBI double. The Warhawks put the tying run at second with no outs and third base with two outs, but Josh Hill forced a pop-out to end the game and win the series for the Statesmen. 7-6 Delta State final.

ON THE MOUND

• Starter Harrison Haley pitched 4.0 innings. He allowed up four runs on seven hits with two strikeouts and two walks.
• Logan Cromer relieved Haley and pitched the fifth inning. He gave up two runs on two hits with two walks as well.
• Noah Magee pitched the next 2.1 innings. He allowed no runs on two hits with three strikeouts and a walk.
• Josh Hill (W, 1-0) picked up the win as he pitched the final 1.2 innings. He didn't give up a run or a hit and struck out one.

UP NEXT
Delta State travels to Magnolia, AR for a Tuesday (3/28) nonconference game against Southern Arkansas. Go Green Weekend begins next Friday (3/31) as the Statesmen begin another GSC series in Cleveland against Alabama Huntsville.