Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 ROME--The Hawks were one out away from sweeping No. 7 Delta State Saturday afternoon, but the Statesmen rallied to win game two to earn the split.

Shorter moves to 10-28 on the season and 7-17 in conference play.

The Hawks took the lead in the game one as Charlie Gillis scored on a balk in the third inning, and added to it in the seventh on an RBI single from Bryan Mathews to plate Dylan Riner. Shorter led 2-0 going into the ninth, but gave up one run as Austin McClain scored when Dex Harrington was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

Colton Cross earned the win for the Hawks after pitching seven shutout innings, allowing three hits and five walks with one strikeout. Zach Whitaker, who was called on in the ninth to record the final out after Christian Champion ran into trouble, picked up the save. Jonathan Moody recorded the loss; allowing two runs on four hits with five strikeouts over 6.1 innings.

Shorter scored twice in the first inning of game two as Dylan Riner scored on an error and Zach Santos came in on an RBI single from Mathews. In the third, the Statesmen cut the lead in half, but the Hawks answered in the fifth to make it a 4-1 game on a homerun from Mathews and an RBI single from Jacob Forrest.

Delta State scored three times in the sixth to tie the game, but once again Shorter answered. In the bottom of the inning Dustin Evans and Jesse Gavigan both delivered RBI single to take a 7-4 lead.

The Hawks once again ran into trouble in the final inning, allowing four hits and five runs all after two outs were recorded to earn the win 9-7.

Taylor Stark earned the win for the Statesmen, allowing no runs on two hits with three strikeouts over two innings of work. Chadd Felder recorded the loss, allowing four runs on five hits in 1.1 innings of work.

Forrest finished the day with four hits; while Mathew and Gavigan both posted three hits.

Shorter will be back in action next weekend as they close out conference play when North Alabama visits the Ledbetter Baseball Complex.