PANTHERSVILLE, GA -- After Ryan Cuneo extended his hitting streak to 17 games in the first inning, he came back in the eighth to provide a crucial two-run single that broke a deadlock and propelled the University of Delaware baseball team past Georgia State, 10-8, at The Field on Friday night.

Cuneo (at right) eventually finished the game with three hits, including a three-run home run in the seventh. Steve Ulaky also added a critical single to keep the team's three-run eighth inning rally alive, while Josh Dean and Pat Dameron chipped in with two hits apiece for Delaware (17-27, 8-14 CAA).

During the contest, Georgia State (26-19, 8-13) came back from an early three-run deficit to grab an 8-4 advantage heading into the seventh inning. At that point, the Blue Hen offense came alive, pulling within one after Cuneo slammed a three-run shot to right center.

One inning later, Delaware posted a matching three-spot in the eighth, once again highlighted by their sophomore first baseman. During the rally, back-to-back singles by Bill Merkler and Dameron put runners on the corners with one out. Although Kyle Davis went down swinging, Ulaky picked the team up with a crucial two-out single.

After starting the season as a relief pitcher, the recently-converted role player lined a shot down the right field line that brought home Merkler and knotted the game at eight. Following a pitching change and a Panther error, Cuneo singled through the right side of the infield to give Delaware its first lead since the second inning.

Senior closer David Slovak ensured that the game would not slip away, retiring six straight Georgia State batters to post his fourth save of the season.

The victory continued the Blue Hens' season-long trend of capturing the first game of their conference series. The team has now won five of its seven CAA openers this year.

Although Delaware needed a late rally to capture the game, the Hens did grab an early three-run lead in the first. During the squad's first trip to the plate, Scott Shockley reached on a fielder's choice, Cuneo doubled, and Chris Nehl was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Ryan Reed sent them all home after he ripped a three-run double to left center.

Georgia State responded with a single run in the bottom of the inning before jumping on Blue Hen ace Mike McGuire for four in the second to grab a two-run lead.

In the Panthers' second crack at McGuire, Derek Simmons led off with a single and immediately came around to score on an RBI double by Dusty Bennett. Although Delaware’s right-hander got two quick outs after that point, Jean-Michel Rochon-Salvas worked a walk before Chase Childers laced a two-run double down the right field line. Bradley Logan found nearly the exact same spot in his at bat, notching an RBI double to cap off the inning.

Delaware answered with a run in the fourth to pull within one at 5-4. Jared Olson led off the inning with a walk, stole second, took third on the front-end of a failed double steal, and scored when Josh Dean singled through the left side of the infield.

After Georgia State took back its two-run advantage in the fifth, the team grabbed its largest lead of the game by plating two more in the sixth when Childers homered and Bennett notched an RBI single to right.

The Panther offense could do little else after that point, however, as freshman reliever Matt Harden (1-1) allowed only one runner in the seventh before Slovak fired two perfect innings to close out the game.

David Ferrer (2-3) took the loss for Georgia State after allowing six runs, including four earned, in his 1.2 innings of work.

The two teams will continue their three-game series tomorrow at 6 p.m.

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