Newark, Del.- Pat Dameron's RBI double in the seventh inning proved to be the difference as Georgia State (21-8, 4-4 CAA) dropped its second straight Colonial Athletic Association game to Delaware, 5-4, Saturday at Bob Hannah Stadium.
The Blue Hens improved to a CAA-leading 8-3 in conference and 15-12 overall with the win.
For the second straight day, the Panthers jumped out in front 3-0 on the home team, this time with a three-run second inning. After Ryan Fleming drew a one-out walk, Drew Shields doubled to left center, advancing Fleming to third. Theo Asher's ground out scored Fleming to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead. After Shane Hammond walked, Bryan Condotta ripped a double to left center to score both Shields and Hammond for a 3-0 GSU advantage.
The Blue Hens responded in the bottom of the inning with two runs of their own off Panther senior Charley Olson (2-3), including an RBI single by Aaron Mascoe to bring the Blue Hens within a run at 3-2.
Senior outfielder Ryan Fleming added to GSU's lead with a long blast to right field for his seventh home run of the season, a solo shot that made it 4-2.
Delaware would answer once again in the bottom of the inning with two runs to tie the game at 4 after a Steve Ulaky RBI double and a Hank Yates sacrifice fly.
Olson settled down well for GSU, shutting out the Blue Hens over the next three innings.
In the bottom of the seventh, Stoltzfus led off with a single to left for UD. After he advanced to third on a ground out and a fly out, Dameron plated him for the winning run with a double to left center field.
Jake Dyer entered in relief of Olson, throwing one inning of scoreless relief to keep the Panthers down just one.
GSU threatened to tie the game in both the eighth and ninth innings, but Fleming struck out swinging with runners on second and third base to end the game as Stephen Richter picked up his fifth save of the season.
The loss snapped a 14-game streak in which the Panthers had racked up double-digit hits, as GSU totaled just six Saturday, led by Shields' two.
Corey Crispell (2-2) earned the victory for UD with 4.0 scoreless innings of relief, allowing just two Panther hits.
The teams play again Sunday in the series finale at 1 p.m. at Bob Hannah Stadium, with GSU's Justin Malone (4-0) facing UD's Chad Kuhl (1-1).
