MARTIN, Tenn. (Interstat) — TJ Dunsford broke out of a prolonged slump with a three-hit, four-RBI performance, including a pivotal two-run homer, to lift the Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks to an 8-7 victory over the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils in the first game of a doubleheader on Friday at Skyhawk Park.

The game, a back-and-forth affair that saw four lead changes, was ultimately decided by a fifth-inning wild pitch that plated Dunsford with what proved to be the decisive run. The win improved Tennessee-Martin’s record to 5-6, while Mississippi Valley State fell to 2-9.

Dunsford, the Skyhawks’ designated hitter, entered the contest mired in an 0-for-15 skid over his previous four games. He immediately reversed that trend in the bottom of the first inning. After Colten Payton’s RBI double had put Tennessee-Martin on the board, Dunsford launched a two-run homer to deep center field off Delta Devils starter Darnell, erasing an early deficit and giving the Skyhawks a 3-0 lead.

He was not finished. In the third inning, with the game tied 3-3, Dunsford delivered again, lacing a two-run single up the middle to score Payton and Davis, who had both stolen bases earlier in the frame, to put Tennessee-Martin back ahead 5-3.

The most important sequence of the game, however, unfolded in the middle innings. Mississippi Valley State had clawed back to tie the game at 7-7 in the top of the fifth on an RBI single from Kendall Brookins. The Delta Devils then turned to reliever Clint Lafferty, who was brilliant in relief, tossing four scoreless innings and allowing no hits while striking out one.

But Lafferty’s outing began shakily. The first batter he faced in the bottom of the fifth was Dunsford, who greeted him with a double to right center. Dunsford then advanced to third on a flyout and, with two outs, sprinted home on a wild pitch to score what became the game-winning run.

Mississippi Valley State out-hit Tennessee-Martin 14 to 9 but stranded 10 baserunners and hit into a critical double play. The Delta Devils mounted a final threat in the ninth against Skyhawks reliever Mason Little. Aiden Meyer led off the inning with a solo home run, his second of the season, to pull Mississippi Valley State within a run at 8-7. Little, however, settled in to retire the next three batters in order, securing the save with 1 1/3 innings of one-run ball.

For the Delta Devils, Brookins went 3 for 4 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Jace Jones and Meyer each homered. Eric Williams added two hits. Dean McCalla earned the win in relief for Tennessee-Martin despite allowing one earned run over 1 2/3 innings. Payton joined Dunsford with a multi-hit game, going 2 for 4 with an RBI, and Amari Conley added two doubles.

The victory defied the pregame projections from Interstat, whose game simulator had predicted a 5-2 Tennessee-Martin win and whose ELO system gave the Skyhawks an 80.9% probability of victory.

The teams were scheduled to conclude the doubleheader later Friday. The series is set to continue through the weekend.