Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

PANTHERSVILLE, GA -- After falling behind by four early in the game, Georgia State came back with five unanswered runs to avoid a sweep and top the University of Delaware baseball team, 5-4, in Colonial Athletic Association action at The Field on Sunday afternoon.

Despite the loss, Delaware (18-28, 9-15 CAA) secured its first road conference series win of the season after taking the first two games against the Panthers.

Although the Hens could not continue their winning ways, sophomore first baseman Ryan Cuneo (at right) did extend his torrid streak with three hits during the game. He has now hit safely in 19 straight contests, matching the 12th longest streak in Blue Hen history. It also ranks as the 5th best since 2000.

Kyle Davis and Bill Merkler also added two hits apiece for the Hens, while sophomore starter Brian Rorick (2-5) had a solid outing despite picking up the loss. In six innings of work, he struck out five and allowed only three earned runs but was saddled by shaky defense that led to two unearned scores.

After falling behind by four in the first three innings of play, Georgia State (27-20, 9-14) slowly chipped away at its deficit in the latter part of the game. In the bottom of the third, the team tacked its first two runs on the board. During the rally, the Panthers put themselves in a position to strike back hard, loading the bases with no outs. Despite the situation, Rorick worked out of the jam relatively unscathed as he induced a 6-4-3 double play that the team gladly traded for one run. An infield error eventually brought in the second of the inning before the Hens’ right-hander struck out Derek Simmons to end the threat.

The Panthers came back with another unearned run in the fourth when a second Delaware error brought in Matt Van Horn, who had doubled to start the inning.

In their sixth trip to the plate, Georgia State took its first lead of the game. Van Horn led-off with a single and advanced to second when Dusty Bennett walked. After Rorick recorded the second out of the inning by striking out a Panther pinch-hitter, Nick Hogan smacked a two-run double down the left field line to put GSU up, 5-4.

Although Delaware put runners on during each its last three trips to the plate, the team could not bring one home as the Panther bullpen was up to the challenge.

Drew Grant (4-3) earned the win for Georgia State after scattering nine hits and four runs while striking out six in seven innings of work. On senior day, four-year standout Bobby Bennett also picked up his first save of the season with two strong innings out of the bullpen.

After a quick first inning, the Blue Hens grabbed early control of the game with a clutch two-out rally in the second. Although the first two batters went down in order, Delaware loaded the bases when Ryan Reed singled, Jared Olson walked, and Merkler notched an infield hit. With the bases packed, Pat Dameron knocked in the first run after working a walk. Davis immediately followed with a key two-run single to spot Delaware a three-run lead.

The Blue Hens came back for one more in the top of the third when Scott Shockley ripped a lead-off single before Cuneo knocked him in with a double to left.

Delaware could not score again after that point, though, as the team could only watch as Georgia State plated five unanswered runs to grab the win.

The Hens will hope to get back on track when they travel to UMBC on Tuesday for a 7 p.m. match-up.

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