WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Statesmen Baseball (1-0) defeated Palm Beach Atlantic (0-1) on Friday night at Simpson Field to open the 2025 season with a 6-5 win.
 
Delta State scored first for the early 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning. The second time through the order, Wes Warnock led off with a bunt single. Later in scoring position, Warnock scored on a Dylan Coleman RBI double to right field. Triston Hickman added to the score with an RBI single to right field, scoring Coleman.
 
The Statesmen added to their lead in the top of the fourth, scoring a run on two hits. Dylan Dendy doubled to left field, advanced to third on a Tyler Janos single through the left side and later came around to score on a Matthew Martinolich RBI sacrifice fly to right field.
 
Palm Beach Atlantic was quiet offensively through four innings, due to a solid pitching performance from the starter Drake Fontenot, but the Sailfish took advantage of a costly fielding error and took the lead, 4-3, in the bottom of the fifth.
 
The next inning saw Delta State tie the game 4-4. With runners at first and second, Warnock singled through the right side, scoring Janos.
 
DSU reclaimed the lead in the top of the seventh, 5-4, when Warnock singled to second base, scoring pinch runner Cole Thompson. In the home half of the seventh, PBA tied the game at 5-5, executing again on a DSU error.
 
In the top of the eighth, the Green-and-White scored again to go back on top 6-5. With the bases loaded and one out, Dendy reached on a fielder's choice up the middle, scoring Coleman.
 
Logan Cromer retired the side in the bottom of the eighth, and Josh Hill retired the side in the top of the ninth, giving Cromer the win, Hill the save, and Delta State the 6-5 win.
 
FROM THE MOUND
Fontenot went 4.2 innings, giving up four runs, none earned, on six hits and striking out six. In relief, Cromer (1-0) pitched 3.1 innings and gave up one unearned run on two hits, striking out four. As closer, Hill (1) faced four batters, giving up one hit and recording a strikeout en route to the save.
 
FROM THE BATTERS BOX
Three Statesmen recorded a multi-hit game. Coleman went 4-for-6 with a double and an RBI. Warnock went 3-for-6 with two RBI, while Hickman went 2-for-6 with a double and RBI.
 
UP NEXT
Delta State continues its road trip in the Sunshine State with a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 1 against preseason No. 22 Nova Southeastern. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.