NEWARK, Del. – A four-run eighth inning helped the Delaware Blue Hens rally late to beat North Carolina A&T 8-7 in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) baseball action Friday evening at Bob Hannah Stadium. A&T lost its third straight conference game and fell to 14-16 overall and 6-8 in league play. The Blue Hens moved to above .500 in conference play with an 18-16 overall record and a 7-6 mark in the CAA. 

A&T took a three-run lead in the sixth as first baseman Anthony Hennings launched a three-run home run to left field, scoring catcher Canyon Brown and designated hitter Camden Jackson who both singled. 

Delaware got to within one at 5-4 in the home seventh when Tyler Leach hit a two-run homer to right center. But A&T put some distance between them and the Blue Hens late in the game. 

Jackson opened the eighth by battling with Delaware left-handed reliever Eli Attiya for 10 pitches before earning a walk. It took only one pitch from Attiya for left fielder Michael Logan to blast a two-run homer to left field to give the Aggies a 7-4 advantage. But unfortunately, the Blue Hens had a big-time answer for the Aggies in their half of the eighth. 

Joey Loynd opened the inning with a solo home run to cut the Aggies lead to two. After Josear Diaz hit a one-out single to center field, A&T RHP Justin Poris (L, 1-2) entered the game on the mound and got Juke Dunion to strike out looking. But Andre Amato kept the Blue Hens rally going with a single to right center. That led to Leach hitting his second home run in as many innings with a three-run shot to left center for an 8-7 Blue Hens lead. 

RHP Owen Margolis (S, 2) replaced LHP Anthony Gubitosi (W, 1-0) to open the ninth to close the game. Margolis retired the Aggies in order to end the game. Despite the loss, the Aggies received a solid outing from starting right-hander Coley Kilpatrick who went six innings, striking out four while giving up three hits and three runs. RHP Bryce Greenly started for the Blue Hens and recorded five strikeouts in five innings pitched. 

Jackson went 2-for-2 with two runs scored for the Aggies. Logan had a 2-for-3 day with two RBI and a run scored. Hennings also had a multi-hit game by going 2-for-4 with a run scored. The two teams will play Game 2 of the series Saturday night at 6.