Gulf South Conference

Delta State Wins 2012 GSC Baseball Tournament Title

5/8/2012 6:03:38 PM

Rome, GA—Delta State University earned its 12^th Gulf South Conference Baseball Championship here today at State Mutual Stadium in Rome, GA.

Delta State (40-12) entered as the Tournament’s top seed, but the Statesmen needed two victories on Tuesday to secure its first Title since 2008. DSU opened the day with a 4-0 shutout of North Alabama and secured the Championship with a 14-8 triumph over Alabama Huntsville. DSU upped its all-time record in the Tournament to 67-40 and also collected the league’s automatic berth to next week’s NCAA South Regional Tournament. 

Delta State advanced to the Title Game after blanking No. 4 seed North Alabama (39-16), 4-0, in the first game of the day. DSU rode the arm of starting pitcher Josh Branstetter who pitched a complete-game four hitter behind six strikeouts. Catcher Jon Carnahan accounted for the Statesmen’s first three runs, lacing a RBI-single in the first inning and a two-RBI double in the third. First baseman Brent Langston completed the scoring in the fourth when he homered over the left field fence. 

DSU saved its best for last, tying a GSC Tournament record with 24 total hits en route to a 14-8 win over No. 3 seed Alabama-Huntsville (31-22). The Statesmen seemed to run away with things early, plating seven runs in the first four innings, but UAH closed the gap to 7-3 with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Delta State closed the door in the final four frames, outscoring the Chargers 7-5. Sam Kidd, Michael Vinson and Jon Carnahan each laced three RBIs in the game led by Kidd’s 4-for-6 effort. Starting pitcher Jordan Moore collected his seventh win of the season on the mound, fanning five batters in 5.0 innings of work.