CLEVELAND, Miss. – The Delta State University Statesmen defeated No. 14 West Alabama 14-9 in Game 1 on Friday afternoon at Harvey Stadium-Ferriss Field behind a stellar relief pitching performance from Ryan Herbison and a multi-home run game from Levi Lang and Tucker Jones.

The Statesmen took the early 1-0 lead in the first inning when Jacob Palazzo singled through the left side, scoring Tucker Jones.

West Alabama went on to score seven unanswered runs over the third, fourth and top part of the fifth innings.

DSU matched West Alabama's five-run fifth, scoring five runs on RBI extra-base hits from Landon Holliman, Jones, and Levi Lang. Jones and Lang launched back-to-back home runs to put the Statesmen within reach 7-6.

The Statesmen used another five-run inning in the sixth to take a commanding 11-7 lead. Jones hit his second three-RBI home run of the day, followed by RBI doubles from Cade Greer and Cooper Walls.

Lang's second home run of the game, coupled with Austin Batts' RBI single to right field, in the bottom of the eighth extended the Statesmen lead.

The Tigers used two more runs scattered across the visitor half of the eighth and ninth innings, setting the final score at 14-9 in favor of Delta State.

Although every Delta State hitter recorded at least one hit, with six being multiple hits, the Statesmen were led at the plate by Jones (3-for-4, 6 RBIs) and Walls (3-for-5, 1 RBI).

Herbison (2-1) picked up the win in relief, going 3.2 innings and giving up two earned runs on four hits and three walks.

The Statesmen continue the three-game series with a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 21.