Delphi's bats broke out of a mini-slump Monday evening at Frankfort as the Oracles pounded out 11 hits during their 13-9 victory over the Hot Dogs, ranked #15 in this week's Class 3A poll.

After last Tuesday's game against Peru was cancelled due to weather, Delphi won its Hoosier Conference opener over Sheridan 4-3, despite being held to only two hits in the contest.

On Friday night, the Oracles (7-4) traveled to Tippecanoe Valley High School for a pair of games that were scheduled mid-week in an effort to replace so many of the early-season games that have been cancelled. Delphi, however, ran up against a buzz saw, dropping both games of the twin-bill by scores of 5-0 and 12-3.

At Frankfort

The Oracles rallied from a 5- 3 deficit with five runs in the top-of-the-5th inning on a pair of singles from Dustin Salyer and A.J. Beckett, a pair of walks yielded to Shane Hyman and Karson Bender, and a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt from Tyler Smith. That set-up a 2-run single to right-center by Austin Hawn.

Delphi extended its lead to 11-7 with three more runs in the 6th after Neil Snoeberger reached base safely on an infield error, followed by another single from Salyer and a 2-run single from Hyman.

The Oracles continued their hot-streak with a pair of insurance runs in the 7th inning, ignited by a 2-out single from Salyer, followed by a Beckett double and a 2-run double from Hyman.

Snoeberger struck out eight Hot Dogs (7-4) over five innings to improve his record on the mound to 3-0 on the season, while Tanner Cripe closed the game in relief, allowing only one hit over two innings.

Salyer led the offensive barrage with a 4-for-5 performance, followed by Hyman, who went 2-for-4 with a double and four RBIs. Beckett was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI, while both Hawn and Snoeberger drove in two runs apiece. Bender added an RBI and a hit to the effort.

Vs. Sheridan

After a fairly lengthy fiveday layoff due to weather, the Oracles came out a bit sluggish against the Blackhawks, but were able to sneak away with a hard-fought, one-run victory.

All four Delphi runs came in the bottom-half of the 3rd inning when the Oracles got their only two hits of the game and were assisted by a Sheridan error and a couple of hitbatsmen.

Trailing 1-0 entering Delphi's half of the 3rd, Ralph Overman led-off with a single, stole 2nd base and was forced to 3rd as both Andrew Flora and Hawn were hit-by-pitches in consecutive at-bats.

Overman and Flora were then safe at home after an errant throw to the plate on a Snoeberger fielder's choice. Salyer drove in a run on an infield hit and Beckett one with a sacrifice fly to left field.

It was all that Snoeberger would need as he went the distance on the hill, striking out seven and allowing only one earned run to secure the victory, despite Sheridan's comeback attempt with two runs in its final at-bat.

At Tippecanoe Valley

The Oracles looked a bit lethargic after the long bus trip to south of Mentone Friday night to visit a strong Tippecanoe Valley team.

Delphi was limited to one hit in the opener as it was shut out for the first time this season.

Cripe doubled over 3rd base in the top-of-the 5th inning, but he would be the last Oracle to reach base safely.

Delphi broke out a bit with eight hits in the second game, but five errors in the field proved too much to overcome in the lop-sided loss.

Cripe and Snoeberger had two hits apiece to lead the Oracles, with Snoeberger, Bender and Dayton Rumell each adding an RBI. Hyman, Beckett, Snoeberger and Cripe each had a double, with Salyer and Bender accounting for the rest of Delphi's hits.

Weather permitting, Delphi has a cluster of upcoming games, including traveling to Twin Lakes Tuesday night (too late for print), then hosting the Indians Wednesday night at 5 p.m. in the back-half of the home-and-home conference series, before hosting the Oracle Classic on Saturday starting a 9 a.m., then traveling to Carroll Monday night at 5 and then to Sheridan on Tuesday, again at 5.