FLORENCE, Ala. -- The University of North Alabama gave up four unearned runs in the fourth inning and Delta State went on to post a 5-3 win over the Lions at Mike Lane Field in a battle for the lead in the Gulf South Conference.

With the loss, North Alabama is now 30-13 overall and 18-7 in GSC play, while the Statesmen improved to 33-7 overall and 19-4 in the GSC. The Loss also snapped a 10-game winning streak for the Lions.

UNA starter Tyler Joyner threw 137 pitches over six and two-thirds innings but gave up four runs in the fourth inning on four walks, one hit, a hit batter and an error. He walked eight and struckout in the game to fall to 7-4 on the season.

DSU starter Seth Brdsong almost matched Joyner's pitch count, reaching 129. He improved to 8-0 with eight innings pitched, allowing three runs on three hits with five walks and seven strikeouts. Hunter Riggins came on in the ninth to get his third save of the season.

UNA took a 2-0 lead in the second inning when Tate Mathis got a leadoff single and advanced to third on an errant pick-off attempt. He then scored when Payton Thomas struckout but the throw by the catcher to first was wide, allowing Thomas to reach base and Mathis to score. Thomas later scored on a sacrifice fly by Davis Elliott to make it 2-0.

DSU then took a 4-2 lead in the fourth and UNA bounced back with a run in the fifth to close the gap to 4-3. Ben Cooley got a leadoff walk and T.J. Lockett singled. Cooley then scored on a sacrifice fly by Kyle Hubbuch.

The Statesmen got an insurance run in the eighth to make the final count 5-3.

Josh Stillman pitched the final two and a third innings, allowing one run on four hits with one walk and two strikeouts.

The Lions and Statesmen will play a double-header Saturday at 1 p.m.

UNA will recognize the members of the school's 1993 Gulf South Conference Championship baseball team in a pre-game ceremony and will honor the 11 senior members of its 2018 team between games.