TAMPA, Fla. – No. 14 Delta State University (40-15) used a three-run seventh to break a 4-4 tie en route to a 7-5 win over No. 3 University of Tampa (41-9) at the NCAA Division II South Region Tournament on Friday at the Tampa Baseball Complex.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: No. 4 Seed Delta State 7, No. 1 Seed Tampa 5
Records: No. 14 Statesmen (40-15) | No. 3 Spartans (41-9)
Location | Stadium | Time of Game: Tampa, Fla.-Tampa Baseball Complex | 3:07
Weather: 88 degrees, partly cloudy, N7 mph wind
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Statesmen got a run in the top of the first for a quick 1-0 lead, when Will Robertson was hit by a pitch and came home on a Ben Pickard single to left.
- Tampa used a three-run third to erase the DSU lead, as J.D. Osborn delivered a two-RBI single and the third run crossed the plate on an error.
- Ethan Gill doubled to start the fourth inning, and moved to third on a wild pitch before scoring on a Colton Welch sac fly.
- The Spartans grabbed a 4-2 lead in the fourth on an RBI single by Matt Piatt.
- Delta State scored single runs in the fifth and sixth innings to tie the game at four. Matt Barrett doubled and scored on a Brandon Cummins sac fly in the fifth, and Jacob Swiney's RBI single scored Pickard in the sixth.
- The Statesmen scored what proved to be the winning runs in the seventh to break the tie, as Ethan Gill's RBI single put the Statesmen in front 5-4, and Pickard's two-run single up the middle extended the lead to 7-4.
- Tampa loaded the bases with one out in the seventh, but DSU reliever Zach Osbon got a double play to end the frame after an RBI single by Vin Consenzo cut the lead to 7-5.
- Osbon walked the leadoff hitter in the ninth, but rebounded to record two fly outs and a strikeout to end the game. Osbon worked 2.2 innings scoreless innings, with a strikeout, and did not surrender a hit, as he recorded his first career save.
- Tre Hobbs (13-3) gave up five runs, two earned, on 10 hits with five strikeouts in 6.1 innings pitched to earn the win for the Statesmen.
- Michael Calkins (3-4) took the loss for Tampa, yielding three runs on four hits in one inning of work.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
- Cummins' eighth inning triple was his ninth of the year, setting the DSU single season triples record. The Drew, Miss., native is tied with Tim Harvey (1977-80) for first on the DSU career triples list with 14.
- Hobbs' 13 wins moved the junior into a tie for fifth on the DSU single season wins list with Brad Lightsey (2005) and Brad Teague (1991).
- The Green-and-White pounded out 12 hits, recording double digit hits for the 35th time in 55 games this season.
- The Statesmen improved to 22-6 when scoring first and have outscored opponents 74-16 in the first inning.
- Delta State is 6-3 overall and 4-1 in NCAA tournament play against the Spartans.
- Statesmen Head Coach Mike Kinnison now has 850 career victories and improved to 41-24 in NCAA tournament games.
UP NEXT
Delta State advances to play the winner of Nova Southeastern/West Florida on Saturday 6 p.m. (CDT).