TAMPA, Fla. — Delta State ran out of steam Monday, and got run out of the NCAA Division II South Regional.

The Statesmen beat Nova Southeastern 3-1 to force a winner-take-all championship game, but fell behind early and lost by the same 3-1 score and had their season end one game short of a Division II World Series appearance.

Delta State has reached the World Series 11 times, but not since finishing as the national runner-up in 2012. Nova Southeastern advanced to the World Series for the first time in the program’s history.

Daniel Zardon hit a solo home run in the second inning of the championship game for Nova Southeastern (39-16), which handed Delta State (42-17) both of its losses in the regional. Starting pitcher Jonny Ortiz allowed one run in 5 1/3 innings and Devin Raffery threw 3 2/3 innings of scoreless ball in relief to earn his 14th save of the season.

Ferris Trophy finalist Will Robertson drove in Delta State’s only run of the second game with a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning.

In game one, Delta State scored three times in the sixth inning to snap a four-game losing streak to Nova Southeastern. One run scored on an error, and Ben Pickard put the Statesmen ahead with a two-run single.