Statesmen Take Series Finale From Tech

Delta State’s Kellen Bozeman hit for the cycle and drove in seven runs to lead the Statesmen to a 15-11 win over the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys in the finale of a three-game Gulf South Conference series at Ferriss Field in Cleveland, Miss.

The loss knocked Arkansas Tech (25-15 overall, 11-4 GSC) out of a tie for first place in the GSC West Division standings with two weekends of regular season play remaining.

The Wonder Boys and the Statesmen (26-15, 11-4) are tied for second place, one game in back off front-running Harding (35-8, 12-3).

DSU took 2-of-3 games during the weekend series.

Delta State led 10-2 after three innings on Sunday, but Arkansas Tech got back in the game with six runs in the top of the fourth.

Madison Beaird delivered a two-run single and Nick Makris came through with a sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth inning to put the Wonder Boys in front 11-10.

Delta State responded with back-to-back RBI singles from Brent Kakwitch and Cameron Robulack in the bottom of the fifth to take the lead for good at 12-11.

Michael Niemann’s sacrifice fly and Bozeman’s two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth increased the Statesmen’s advantage to 15-11 and provided DSU relief pitcher David Mooney with some insurance.

Mooney (2-1) pitched four and two-third innings of scoreless relief to earn the win. He allowed four hits and struck out three.

Todd Immell (1-1), one of five Arkansas Tech pitchers to work on Sunday, took the loss. He gave up five runs, four of which were earrned, on eight hits in four and two-third innings.

Tech’s Matt Johnson extended his hitting streak to 23 consecutive games by going 4-for-5 with a run batted in and four runs scored.

Landon Sullins (photographed) was 2-for-5 with a home run and four RBIs for the Wonder Boys, while Madison Beaird and Josh Riley added three hits apiece. Nate Wilder went 2-for-4 with two runs driven in and two scored. Chris Reese scored two runs for Arkansas Tech.

Bozeman’s home run in the sixth completed his cycle. He already had a triple, a double and a single.

In addition to Bozeman’s big day, Robulack drove in four runs for Delta State.

The Wonder Boys will return home to host Henderson State for a three-game GSC series at Tech Field in Russellville on Friday, April 22, and Saturday, April 23.

The series will begin with a single 9-inning game at 7 p.m.  Friday. That game can be heard on KWKK 100.9 FM in the Russellville area.

Click here to access an Internet stream of the broadcast.

Click here to learn more about Tech Athletics.

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