BOX SCORE
BATON ROUGE, LA, -- In a television interview this week with local media, Mississippi Valley State head coach Doug Shanks predicted that there would be at least one upset on the first day of the SWAC Baseball Tournament.
This year, it was the No. 4 seeded Delta Devils overcoming obstacles and a late four-run deficit before rallying from behind to defeat No. 1 seed Southern, 6-4, on its home field.
"It's a big win because my kids have struggled all year, and we kept the faith and we've gotten better," said Shanks. "And that's what you try to do."
Despite being down 4-0 in the eighth inning, MVSU (15-38) never gave up and responded accordingly. The Delta Devils got the Jaguars' attention first with a three-run double to left center field by Second Team All-SWAC selection Joseph Germaine, and later with an RBI single by pinch hitter Trey Lacy, scoring Allen Cheek to tie the game at 4.
MVSU made a pitching change from starter Kameron Stady to reliever Cody Parker in the bottom of the eighth inning after two Southern players were hit by pitches. Southern's Brian Browry then flied out to end the inning.
The Delta Devils took advantage of their last opportunity to win the game in the top of the ninth when Germaine struck again. The senior standout brought in two runs with a single to the left side, scoring Michael Lowe and Edmund Cheatham, who had a base hit earlier in the inning.
Parker, who was named Second Team All-SWAC, showed why coaches thought so highly of him in the bottom of the ninth when the Starkville native retired Southern's first three batters -- striking out the last two.
"These seniors came through; they kept the team together through the bad times," said Shanks. "And here we got a big victory."
Parker (3-0) earned his third victory of the season, striking two two batters in 1.1 innings of work. He didn't allow any hits or walks.
Germaine finished with five RBIs while Edmund Cheatham and Allen Cheek accounted for three hits apiece.
With the win, the Delta Devils advanced to play in Thursday's 3 p.m. game against Alcorn State, who defeated Grambling State 6-2 on Wednesday.
