HUNTSVILLE, Texas (Interstat) — Caleb Cotton’s two-out single up the middle in the bottom of the ninth inning drove in pinch runner Parker Blackman and lifted Sam Houston State to a 5-4 victory over Delaware on Saturday afternoon at Don Sanders Stadium in a Conference USA contest.

The Bearkats improved to 22-29 overall, while the Blue Hens dropped to 17-33. Sam Houston also won the series opener Friday afternoon, 13-2, setting up a rubber match Sunday.

Delaware jumped ahead in the first inning. Sal Mineo singled, stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on Jeremy Wolf’s run-scoring double down the left-field line. The Blue Hens added a run in the third when Mineo again reached on a hit by pitch, stole second, advanced on a wild pitch and came home on Matthew Minc’s sacrifice fly to center. In the fourth, Cole Carbone walked, advanced to third on Harry Carr’s double and scored on LT Cockrill’s sacrifice fly to center, giving Delaware a 3-0 lead.

Sam Houston’s offense remained quiet through four innings against Blue Hens starter Chase Deibler, who pitched 1.2 scoreless innings before giving way to Dylan Ryan. Ryan allowed a run in the bottom of the fifth as the Bearkats mounted a four-run rally. With one out, Ryan McLaughlin replaced Ryan and issued a bases-loaded walk to Cotton that scored Randon Franden. After a strikeout, Hunter Alvord singled to third base, driving in two runs, and a throwing error allowed another run to score, tying the game at 4-4. Cotton later scored on a wild pitch to give Sam Houston a 4-3 lead.

Delaware tied the game in the top of the eighth when Wolf led off with a solo home run to right field, his second hit of the game. Wolf finished 4-for-4 with a double, a homer and two RBIs. The blast came off reliever Jonathan Anders, who allowed three hits and one earned run in 2.2 innings. Gabriel Winans then entered and pitched 1.1 scoreless innings for the Bearkats.

In the bottom of the ninth, Sam Houston’s Franden led off with a single up the middle, but Curtis grounded into a double play. Corcoran walked and was replaced by pinch runner Blackman. Dean singled to third base, putting runners at first and second, and Cotton delivered the game-winning single to center.

McLaughlin, who took over on the mound in the fifth, pitched 4.2 innings, allowing no hits and one earned run while striking out five. He earned the win. Delaware starter Chase Deibler worked 1.2 scoreless innings, and Dylan Bryan allowed three earned runs in 2.1 innings while striking out four. Sam Houston starter Tyler Ryden gave up three earned runs on six hits in 5.0 innings.

Alvord went 2-for-4 with an RBI for the Bearkats. Carr had two hits for Delaware.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Delaware 6, Sam Houston 4, while Interstat’s ELO system gave Sam Houston a 54.70 percent probability to win.