PENSACOLA, Fla. — The Delta State University baseball team used a three-run third inning and strong pitching to hold off Edward Waters, 3-2, Friday afternoon in elimination play.
Delta State improved to 32-22 on the season behind a combined effort from
Mason Shropshire,
Eli Akins, and
Ryan Herbison on the mound. The trio limited Edward Waters to just five hits while striking out six.
The Statesmen broke through in the top of the third inning after
Landon Holliman walked and later stole second. An Edward Waters error allowed Holliman to score the game's first run before
Walker Maranto delivered an RBI double to left field.
Austin Batts followed with another RBI double down the left field line to extend the lead to 3-0.
Edward Waters answered with a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning and cut the deficit to one in the seventh on an RBI single by Joseph Di Cesare, but Delta State's bullpen shut the door late.
Shropshire earned the win after tossing 6.2 innings, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out four. Akins worked 1.2 scoreless innings in relief, and Herbison recorded the final two outs for his second save of the season.
Maranto led the Statesmen offensively with a 2-for-5 performance and an RBI, while Holliman added two hits and scored a run. Batts also drove in a run with his third-inning double.
Delta State will now face the loser of Lee and West Florida in another elimination contest tomorrow at 1:00 p.m.
