OXFORD, Ala. — The Delta State University baseball team used a late offensive surge and a dominant outing from
Adrian Byrd to defeat Alabama Huntsville 9-5 on Friday at Choccolocco Park, advancing to face Lee in the next round of postseason play.
After falling behind 5-2 in the third inning, the Statesmen (28-19) steadily chipped away before breaking the game open with a four-run seventh inning to take control for good.
UAH (21-24) plated all five of its runs in the third, capitalizing on a Delta State error, highlighted by a three-run home run from Gavin Galenza. Despite the early deficit, Byrd settled in and kept the Chargers off the scoreboard the rest of the way, tossing a complete game with nine strikeouts while allowing just seven hits and one walk.
Delta State answered early with two runs in the second inning, taking advantage of four walks and a wild pitch. The Statesmen then pulled within one in the fifth as
Tucker Jones tripled home
Austin Estes before
Levi Lang followed with an RBI double to make it 5-4.
The decisive moment came in the seventh. Estes led off with a double and later scored on a wild pitch to tie the game. With the bases loaded,
Cade Greer reached on a fielder's choice that turned into a two-run play following a UAH throwing error.
Austin Batts added an RBI single to cap the four-run frame and give DSU an 8-5 advantage.
The Statesmen added an insurance run in the eighth when Jones drove in
Henley Parker with a single up the middle.
Offensively, Delta State tallied 10 hits, led by Jones, who went 2-for-5 with three RBIs, while Estes finished a perfect 2-for-2 with two runs scored and an RBI. Lang also contributed a pair of hits and an RBI in the win.
Byrd improved to 8-1 on the season with the complete-game effort throwing 135 pitches, allowing five runs—none earned—over nine innings.
Delta State advances to face Lee in the next round tomorrow as the Statesmen continue their postseason run in a six-team double elimination bracket.
