CLEVELAND, Miss. — The Delta State University baseball team mounted a late push but could not overcome a big eighth inning from Mississippi College, falling 7-4 Sunday afternoon at Ferriss Field.

The Statesmen (27-19, 20-13 GSC) collected eight hits and drew five walks but were undone by a four-run eighth from the Choctaws that broke the game open.

Mississippi College (28-22, 21-12 GSC) struck first in the opening inning, manufacturing a run before adding another on a solo home run from Creek Robertson in the second to take a 2-0 lead.

Delta State answered in the third, stringing together three hits to tie the game. Peyton Badon led the Statesmen off with a single to right center field. Two batters later, Landon Holliman drove in the first run with a single to left, and Henley Parker followed with an RBI knock to even the score at 2-2.

The Choctaws regained the lead in the fourth on Robertson's second solo homer of the day, putting Mississippi College back in front 3-2.

The game remained tight until the eighth inning when Mississippi College capitalized on a bases-loaded opportunity. JT Thigpen delivered the decisive blow with a three-run triple, and an RBI single from Alex Johnson extended the lead to 7-2.

Delta State attempted a rally in the ninth. Parker lifted a sacrifice fly to score Peyton Badon, and Bo Rock added an RBI single to cut the deficit to 7-4, but the comeback fell short.

Parker led the Statesmen with two RBIs, while Holliman added a hit and an RBI. Walker Maranto recorded a pair of hits, and Badon scored twice.

On the mound, Mason Shropshire (2-4) took the loss, allowing three runs over five innings. Gavin McCoy provided two innings of relief.

Delta State returns to action next weekend as the Statesmen will play on Friday in the Gulf South Conference Championship Tournament at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala., against an opponent to be determined.