HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The Delta State University baseball team delivered a dominant all-around performance Thursday afternoon, shutting out UAH 9-0 at Charger Park in Gulf South Conference play.

The Statesmen (16-13, 11-8 GSC) used a balanced offensive attack and a stellar outing on the mound to secure the series-opening victory, tallying 14 hits while holding the Chargers (13-16, 9-10 GSC) to just four.

Delta State broke the game open in the third inning when Levi Lang launched a three-run home run to left field, giving the Statesmen a 3-0 advantage they would not relinquish. The momentum continued in the fourth with RBI efforts from Landon Holliman and Tucker Jones to extend the lead to 5-0.

Jones paced the offense with a 3-for-5 performance and three RBIs, while Lang drove in three runs of his own. Austin Estes added three hits and scored twice, and Cooper Walls contributed a pair of hits and two RBIs.

On the mound, Adrian Byrd was outstanding, tossing eight scoreless innings to earn the win and improve to 4-0 on the season. Byrd allowed just four hits while striking out six and walking three across 111 pitches. Gavin McCoy closed out the game with a scoreless ninth inning.

Delta State continued to add insurance runs throughout the middle innings, including a two-run sixth inning highlighted by a two-RBI single from Jones. The Statesmen capped the scoring in the ninth on a sacrifice fly from Walls.

The Chargers threatened only sparingly, with their best opportunity coming in the fifth inning when a leadoff double advanced to third, but Byrd worked out of the jam to preserve the shutout.

Delta State returns to action tomorrow against UAH as the series concludes with a double header from Charger Park at 12:00 p.m. (CT).