Delphi senior Kory Banes lays down a nice bunt during Friday's Oracle win against Tipton. The Oracles start sectional play on Monday at Carroll. Photo provided It took all week, but by Friday evening the Delphi Oracles had completed a split with conference foe, Tipton, losing 4-3 at Tipton and winning 10-2 in the home rematch.

At Tipton, the bats were quiet as the Oracles could only muster 5 hits against the Blue Devils. The Oracles scored all 3 of their runs in the 3rd inning as Andrew Cebulla drove in 2, staking the Oracles to a 3-1 lead which they were unable to hold. Mike Myers, in relief of Austin Hawn, absorbed the loss.

Wednesday's home rematch was postponed to the following day due to rain. The game began Thursday with light rain falling and the Oracles struck early in the bottom of the 1st inning. After one out, Hawn walked and Myers singled to center. Kory Banes reached on an error by the Tipton shortstop as Hawn scored. Cebulla followed, also reaching on an error as Myers scored. After a ground out for the 2nd out of the inning, Paul Zink laced a single to right scoring both Banes and Cebulla. Neil Snoeberger walked and AJ Beckett singled to left, scoring Zink for an early 5-0 lead.

As the rain intensified, the game was suspended in the bottom of the 2nd, to be continued the following evening. Under sunshine on Friday, the Oracles were able to tack on another run in the 3rd as Snoeberger singled to left, gained 2nd on a passed ball, and scored on Beckett's double to center. The Blue Devils pushed across single runs in the 4th and 5th before the Oracles exploded for 4 in the bottom of the 6th.

Hawn led off with a walk, advanced to 2nd on a ground out, and scored on a Banes single to left. After a fly ball out and a walk to Dustin Oliver, Zink stepped up and drove a 3 run home run over the right field fence for a 10-2 Oracle advantage. Zink finished 2 for 3 on the night, having driven in 5 of the 10 Oracle runs.

Kyle Bender got the win on the mound, throwing 2 innings each night and raising his record to 7-2 on the year. Tanner Cripe provided 3 innings of strong relief, allowing only 2 hits.