HUNTSVILLE, Texas (Interstat) — Ryan Peterson pitched five and two-thirds innings of six-hit ball and Nathan Fink drove in three runs as Sam Houston State routed Delaware 13-2 in a Conference USA game Friday night at Don Sanders Stadium.

The Bearkats improved to 21-29 overall and 17-32 in conference play. The Blue Hens dropped to 17-32 and 17-32.

Sam Houston trailed 2-0 after the top of the second inning but erupted for four runs in the bottom of the second to tie the game. Jace Martinez delivered a two-run single to right field, scoring Karson Orth and Hunter Alvord. The Bearkats took control with a five-run third inning, sending nine batters to the plate. Nathan Fink doubled to left center to drive in Jaxon Curtis, and Wes Baker followed with an RBI double. Hunter Alvord added a run-scoring single, and Karson Orth grounded out to plate another run. Sam Houston led 6-2 after three.

The Bearkats extended the lead in the bottom of the fourth when Cade Corcoran homered to left center, a 363-foot shot with an exit velocity of 95 mph, making it 7-2. Caleb Cotton then hit a 388-foot solo homer to right field, pushing the margin to 8-2.

Sam Houston broke the game open in the fifth inning, scoring five runs on four hits and taking advantage of two Delaware errors and a passed ball. Jace Martinez scored on a passed ball, and Ryan Franden crossed the plate on a wild pitch. Nathan Fink tripled to right field, driving in Corcoran and Curtis. Wes Baker singled through the right side to score Fink, capping the inning at 13-2.

Peterson, who allowed two earned runs while striking out five, earned the win after a rocky outing May 1 against Kennesaw State in which he gave up six earned runs in five and two-thirds innings. Connor Mondey pitched one and one-third innings of relief, allowing one hit and striking out one. For Delaware, Jackson Hulcher tossed one and one-third innings, giving up one earned run and striking out two.

Sam Houston finished with 12 hits. Caleb Cotton went 2 for 3 with a home run and an RBI. Wes Baker was 2 for 4 with two RBIs. Cade Corcoran went 1 for 3 with a home run and an RBI. Jace Martinez went 1 for 2 with two RBIs. Nathan Fink was 2 for 4 with a double, a triple and three RBIs.

Delaware managed seven hits. Sam Winsett went 1 for 3 with an RBI. Jeremy Wolf was 2 for 3 with an RBI. Matt Minc singled twice. Vincent Davi singled once. Blue Hens starter Andrew Calla lasted three innings, allowing six runs on six hits. Jake Marchesano pitched two innings in relief, giving up three earned runs.

The Blue Hens took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on a sacrifice fly by Sam Winsett that scored Jeremy Wolf, and an RBI single by Jeremy Wolf in the third inning made it 3-0 before the Bearkats stormed back.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Delaware 6, Sam Houston 4. Interstat’s ELO system gave Sam Houston a 54.70 percent probability to win. The series continues Saturday and Sunday at Don Sanders Stadium before Sam Houston hosts Houston Christian on Tuesday and travels to Louisiana Tech for a three-game series. Delaware returns home to host Western Kentucky next weekend.