CLEVELAND, Miss. – The AUM baseball team picked up its biggest victory of the season, defeating No. 12 Delta State, 9-7, on the road at Ferriss Field Friday.
 
AUM (12-30, 9-19 Gulf South) pounded out 13 hits and scored four runs in the seventh to break a 3-3 tie before adding two more an inning later to create some distance on the scoreboard.
 
It was the Warhawks' first visit to Cleveland, Mississippi since the 2020 season, a place they have now won two of the last three from the home squad.
 
On Friday, five different AUM batters had multiple hits, led by catcher Hayden Grier's 3-for-4 night with an RBI and four runs. Left fielder Zach Dew – hitting right behind Grier in the lineup – also finished with three hits, including two doubles with one driving in a pair in the big seventh frame.

AUM was as clutch at the plate as it has been all season, going 7-for-19 with runners on and 5-for-15 with runners in scoring position.
 
Three AUM pitchers combined to strikeout eight Delta State batters and got out of several tight situations, leading to 11 Statesmen left on base. Jackson Reed (3-2) picked up the win by working the final three innings.
 
AUM didn't back down from DSU (29-13, 21-7) ace Drake Fontenot, who entered with a 9-0 record and a 1.24 earned run average. The Warhawks touched him for three runs on six hits as DSU lost for the first time in his 12 starts. Christian Clayton (1-2) took the loss with four runs on four hits in two-thirds of an inning.
 
The teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m.