Delta State stayed undefeated in the NCAA Division II College World Series in Cary, N.C., defeating Catawba College 6-5 to advance in the winner’s bracket.

DSU will face the winner of today’s elimination game between Southern New Hampshire and Minnesota State-Mankato on Thursday at 2 p.m.

The Statesmen struck for two runs in their first at-bat of the game off Catawba’s Nate King. Jordan Chovanec and Sam Kidd walked in back-to-back at-bats and quickly advanced on stolen bases. Jon Carnahan’s sacrifice fly plated DSU’s first run and Michael Vinson slapped an RBI single to right to put the Statesmen ahead.

After a scoreless second, Catawba got to Delta State starter Colton Mitchell for two runs to tie it up at 2-2 in the top of the third. The Indians’ first run crossed the plate on a bases-loaded walk. Garrett Furr delivered a sacrifice fly RBI to left in the inning as well.

King kept the Statesmen (48-13) off the board in the fourth and put his offense back to work. The Indians responded with three runs to take a 5-3 lead. Ryan Bostian’s two-RBI single and Ethan Satterfield’s RBI single to right were the big blows in the inning.

Tyler Aldridge led the Statesmen at the plate with a 3-for-5 effort and one RBI.