pop, pop, pop ... fizz

Delta State showed some power in its opener today, hitting three home runs. But the Statesmen also got a shaky start from Trey Griffin and committed three errors in a 6-4 loss to Lynn, which is also ranked in NCAA Division II. Cade Hoggard, who led DSU with 13 homers in 2009, hit one of the three today at Boca Raton, Fla. Michael Niemann, who led DSU with a .353 average in '09, hit a homer and Josh Gordon added the other. Griffin, 7-0 last season, lasted just 4 1/3 innings and allowed eight hits and four runs (three earned). DSU may be playing with a chip on its shoulder this season, having been left out of the D-II Tournament field last spring despite a 38-16 record and a share of the Gulf South Conference West title. The Statesmen were picked second in the West in a preseason poll this year.