Thomas Gillam's two-out, bloop RBI-single into short centerfield scored Jarvis Simmons with the game-winning run Monday evening as Carroll rallied to defeat Delphi in nine innings, 4-3.

But it was Skylar Bagwell's steal of 3rd base with two outs in the 7th inning that drew an errant throw into left field and allowed him to score to tie the game in Carroll's last at-bat to set-up the extra-inning heroics.

Delphi (8-8) had led the entire way up to that point; scoring three runs in its first at-bat on singles from Andrew Flora and Austin Hawn and an RBI single Dustin Salyer to score Flora, followed by a two-out RBI single by Shane Hyman that scored Salyer after Hawn had already scored from third base on a wild pitch.

But Carroll's pitching trio of Brad Benson, Travis Marvin and Riley Eller would keep the Oracles in check the rest-of-the-way, scattering only four more hits - none in the same inning - and allowing only two more Delphi base runners to reach 3rd base.

Meanwhile, the Oracles' pitching was just as superb. Hawn pitched the first five innings, striking out 11 and allowing only three hits and no earned runs before yielding to Salyer to start the 6th inning. Salyer then pitched three innings of no-hit, shutout ball of his own entering the 9th inning.

The Cougars (4-7) were able to narrow the margin to 3-2 in the bottom-of-thesecond inning after a dropped 3rd strike to Steven Keith allowed him to reach 1st base safely. That play extended the inning, with the next batter grounding out to short with what would have been the final out of the inning.

Instead, Benson, who had walked and went to second on a wild pitch, scored on the Simmons' infield grounder that would have ended the inning but instead came out #2 on a fielder's choice that forced Keith out at second, but then allowed for Bagwell and Drew Yoder to come up with consecutive singles to score Simmons.

Simmons also set-up the final inning rally with a leadoff single to left-center. He advanced to second an out later on another Oracle infield gaffe. Instead of being a possible double-play to end the game, it extended the inning to allow Gillam to come through with the game-winner.

Marvin had the only other Carroll hit as the Cougars were limited to just five in the contest, but committed only one error in the field.

Delphi was able to pound out eight hits with both Flora and Karson Bender collecting two apiece. The Oracles committed five errors in the field - continuing a trend that has been problematic most of the season for the young team as it routinely needs to get the equivalent of four outs in an inning to actually retire the side.

A.J. Beckett had the only other Oracle hit as neither team registered an extra-base hit.

Eller (1-0) earned the decision on the mound with his four innings of relief work, allowing only three hits and striking out four, while Salyer (0-3) took the hard-luck loss for the Oracles.

The Carroll game was the first of seven straight road games for Delphi, including traveling to Sheridan for a Hoosier Conference game Tuesday night (too late for print), then traveling to Tri- County on Thursday night for a 5 p.m. start, to Central Catholic Friday night at 6, to Benton Central for a conference double-header starting at 10 a.m. and another conference contest at West Lafayette next Tuesday at 5.

The Cougars next play host to Hoosier Heartland Conference foe Clinton Central Tuesday night, before traveling to Clinton Central Wednesday night for a 4:45 p.m. start in the back-half of the home-and-home series, then play at conference-foe Clinton Prairie next Tuesday at 4:45.