CLEVELAND, Miss. – The Delta State University baseball team mounted a late rally, but Southern Arkansas University built an early cushion and held on for an 8-3 win over the Statesmen on Tuesday afternoon at Ferriss Field.
Southern Arkansas jumped on the board in the opening inning with a solo home run and added two more in the third to take a 3-0 lead. The Muleriders continued to add on throughout the middle innings, pushing the advantage to 7-0 after a three-run seventh.
Delta State was held scoreless through the first eight innings as Southern Arkansas starter Eli Hutcherson tossed seven shutout frames, allowing just four hits while striking out six to earn the win.
The Statesmen showed life in the ninth inning, scoring all three of their runs with two outs. After singles from
Austin Estes and a walk by
Tyler Otts,
Jacob Hill delivered a three-run home run to left-center field for his first homer of the season, trimming the deficit to 8-3.
Hill led Delta State offensively, finishing 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a walk. Estes added a pair of hits, while
Walker Maranto doubled to right-center in the second inning. Delta State totaled eight hits and five walks in the contest.
On the mound,
Brock Ware took the loss after allowing three runs (two earned) over three innings. The Statesmen bullpen combined for six innings of work, with
Dawson Muenzenmay and
Gavin McCoy each tossing scoreless frames.
Delta State will look to bounce back as the Statesmen start conference play this weekend as they hit the road to face the Flames from Lee in a three-game series this weekend in Cleveland, Tenn.
