finding their way?

If Delta State’s confidence has been shaken during its 2-7 start, the arrival of the Christian Brothers series might serve as a boost. Might. DSU, which visits CBU in Memphis for a three-game Gulf South Conference set this weekend, is 83-11 all-time against the Bucs. The Statesman have won an amazing 37 in a row in the series, taking four games last year by a combined score of 45-3. But, as they say, that was last year. The preseason pick to win the league, DSU is 1-4. CBU is 2-4 and 6-7 overall. Delta State’s hitting has been decent enough, with four batters above .300, led by Brandon Cummins (.306, eight runs) and Ethan Gill (.303, nine RBIs). But the pitching has been woeful. The staff ERA is 6.78. Jonathan Moody, All-GSC in 2014 with a 9-4 record and 2.98 ERA, has a 7.94 in three starts. Drew Milligan, who put up a 1.45 last year, is at 4.50, as is Nick Goza, expected to be a bullpen stalwart. The Statesmen need to get things rolling in the CBU series or their season might skid off the rails. P.S. Surely no newcomer in the state has had a bigger impact than Adam Kowalczyk at Belhaven University. The juco transfer from Delaware Tech, who goes 6 feet 3, 225 pounds, is batting .370 with five home runs, 27 RBIs and a .630 slugging percentage for the Blazers. Kowalczyk started his BU career by hitting safely in 18 straight games. … Junior colleges start league play on Saturday: Northeast hosts Gulf Coast, NJCAA Division II No. 11 Jones County hosts newcomer Meridian, Itawamba hosts No. 2 and 12-0 Hinds, Copiah-Lincoln hosts Delta, Southwest hosts East, Northwest hosts East Central, and Pearl River hosts Coahoma. Holmes starts league play at Northwest on March 11. Every team plays every other team twice under the MACJC’s new format. Postseason qualifying also changed for 2015, with the top two teams from each division and the next four best records getting in. … Keep an eye on Pearl River CC right-hander Jacob Taylor, generally considered the top pro prospect in the state juco ranks. The Picayune product, an LSU signee, is 1-1 with a 3.18 ERA this season. He went 1-1 with a save and a 3.14 ERA in 28 1/3 innings, striking out 33, in 2014. … Nice numbers: Northwest’s Stuart Chick is batting .600, second in the nation, and JCJC’s Daniel Goff is 4-0 with a 1.23 ERA.