OXFORD, Ala. — Delta State's postseason run came up just short on Tuesday afternoon, as the Statesmen fell 2-1 to West Florida in the Gulf South Conference Championship game at Choccolocco Park.
In a tightly contested matchup between two of the league's top teams, pitching and defense took center stage throughout. West Florida capitalized on a two-run second inning and made it hold up, despite a late push from Delta State.
The Argonauts plated the game's only two runs in the bottom of the second, taking advantage of a pair of hits and a Delta State error to grab an early 2-0 lead. From there,
Adrian Byrd settled in on the mound, delivering a strong outing. The right-hander went 7.0 innings, allowing just two runs—only one earned—on six hits while striking out five.
Delta State's offense broke through in the seventh inning thanks to
Cade Greer, who launched a solo home run to left field to cut the deficit to 2-1. Greer finished the day 2-for-4 with the Statesmen's lone RBI.
The Statesmen continued to battle late, putting runners on base in both the eighth and ninth innings. However, West Florida's bullpen held firm, turning a game-ending double play in the ninth to seal the victory.
Delta State tallied seven hits on the day, with
Tucker Jones,
Levi Lang,
Walker Maranto, and
Henley Parker each recording a hit alongside Greer's multi-hit performance.
Despite the loss, several Statesmen were recognized for their performances throughout the tournament.
Cade Greer, Mason Shropshire, Adrian Byrd, and Tucker Jones were all named to the Gulf South Conference All-Tournament Team.
The Statesmen conclude the conference tournament with a 31-21 record and now await their postseason fate as selections for the NCAA South Region Tournament will be announced Sunday at 9:00 p.m. (CT).
