West Florida edges Delta State 2-1 to win GSC baseball title

Oxford, Alabama — Delta State’s baseball season ended Tuesday afternoon with a 2-1 loss to West Florida in the Gulf South Conference Championship game at Choccolocco Park.

The game was closely contested, with pitching and defense playing key roles. West Florida took an early lead with two runs in the second inning, capitalizing on hits and a Delta State error. The Argonauts scored their only runs in that inning and held the lead for the rest of the game.

Adrian Byrd pitched seven strong innings for West Florida, allowing two runs—only one earned—on six hits with five strikeouts. Delta State’s offense rallied in the seventh, when Cade Greer hit a solo home run to left field, bringing the score to 2-1. Greer finished 2-for-4 with the team’s only RBI.

Despite putting runners on base in the eighth and ninth innings, Delta State could not complete the comeback. West Florida’s bullpen secured the win with a double play in the ninth inning. The Statesmen totaled seven hits in the game, with Tucker Jones, Levi Lang, Walker Maranto, and Henley Parker each recording one. Greer added a multi-hit performance.

Several Delta State players earned postseason honors, including Greer, Mason Shropshire, Adrian Byrd, and Tucker Jones, who were named to the Gulf South Conference All-Tournament Team. The team finished the tournament with a 31-21 record and now awaits NCAA South Region Tournament selections, which will be announced Sunday at 9 p.m. CT.

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