The Delta State baseball team had a chance to win a Gulf South Conference championship on Tuesday but fell short to West Florida, 2-1, in the conference tournament’s finale.
Pitching and defense took center stage throughout the game held at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala. The only offense for West Florida (39-13) came in a two-run second inning before Delta State (31-21) put one on the board via a Cade Greer solo home run in the seventh inning.
Apart from the two runs given up in the second, one of which was on a fielder’s error, starting pitcher Adrian Byrd (8-2) struck out five and allowed six hits across seven innings of work for the Statesmen.
Colton Dorsey (8-2) allowed no runs on four hits while fanning four across five innings for the Argonauts. Delta State was more successful against West Florida’s bullpen, putting runners on base in both the eighth and ninth innings, but Argonaut arms prevailed and kept the comeback attempt at bay.
Greer led Statesmen batters with two hits, including the home run, while Tucker Jones, Levi Lang, Walker Maranto, and Henley Parker each recorded one hit. For West Florida, no player had more than one hit, but Hudson Spencer paced with an RBI and a stolen base.
Despite the loss, several Delta State players were recognized for their performances throughout the tournament, which included wins over Alabama Huntsville, Lee, West Alabama, and Trevecca Nazarene. Greer, Mason Shropshire, Byrd, and Jones were all named to the Gulf South Conference All-Tournament Team.
The Statesmen will find out Sunday if they are selected for the NCAA Division II South Region Tournament. The field will be announced at 9 p.m. CT.
