Box Score CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.–No. 2 Delta State capitalized on four Christian Brothers University errors Thursday night as they handed the Bucs a 9-3 loss in the opening round of the Taziki's Gulf South Conference Tournament at AT&T Field.

The Statesmen (39-7-1) scored the game's first run in the bottom of the second on an  error after a walk and a single. The Bucs (9-36) would answer in the top of the third inning. Caleb Goodwin (Shreveport, La./Evangel Christian Academy) drew a leadoff walk and scored on back-to-back singles by Jarrett Jenkins (Ridgeland, Miss./Ridgeland HS) and Ryan Knott (Cordova, Tenn./St. Benedict HS).

The game remained knotted at one until the bottom of the fourth, when the Statesmen took the lead for good with a four-run burst. Two walks and a single loaded the bases with none out, and a single, an error, and a double brought four runs in.

The Statesmen added two runs in the seventh on two walks, a single, and an error. The Bucs mounted one last rally in the top of the eighth. Charles Kelly (Bartlett, Tenn./Bartlett HS) hit a one-out single, and two-out walks to Will Wilson (Cordova, Tenn./First Assembly Christian School) and Tyler Burnett (Germantown, Tenn./Germantown HS) loaded the bases for Mac Cooley (Bartlett, Tenn./Horn Lake HS), who hit a two-run single up the middle to cut the deficit to 7-3. A lineout ended the threat, and DSU tacked on two more in the bottom of the eighth on four singles to set the final margin.

Goodwin went 2-for-3 with two doubles and a run scored in the game, and Cooley drove in two runs. Miles Anderson (Milan, Tenn./Milan HS) tossed a scoreless first but had to leave in the second inning due to an injury.

The Bucs return to action tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m. as they take on fourth-seeded North Alabama, who dropped a 4-2 decision in 12 innings to No. 29 Valdosta State Thursday night.