CLEVELAND - The Abilene Christian Wildcats (19-6) scored five runs on eight hits and fought off a comeback in the bottom of the ninth by the Delta State Statesmen (15-8-1) for a 5-4 victory Wednesday at Ferriss Field.  The victory splits the season series at 1-1.

ACU scored four of the their five runs in the second inning, as Aaron Oliver delivered a bases clearing three RBI double to center to take a 4-0 lead. 

Will McGinnis made it 4-1 in the bottom of the second, as the junior smashed his first home run of the season over the right field deck.

The Statesmen made it 4-2 in the fifth on Josh Gordon's sac-fly RBI to center.

The Wildcats scratched out an insurance run in the eighth off Cameron Bankston's RBI single to left.

Leading 5-2 heading into the bottom of the ninth, the Statesmen rallied for two runs with two outs and had the tying run on second.  After two quick outs, Pinch-hitter Rickey Ware drew a walk followed by Billy Ray Todd's double down the rightfield line.  Michael Niemann's single to center plated Ware and Todd to make it 5-4.  After Niemann swiped second and Gordon was hit by a pitch, ACU's Willie Uechi made a great play to his left to end the game on a ground out by Cade Hoggard. 

Zach Sneed (4-0) claimed the win for ACU, allowing two runs on seven hits in 5.0 innings pitched.  ACU used three other pitchers, including Brad Rutherford (4), who claimed his fourth save with two innings of relief. 

Josh Branstetter (1-1) took the loss, allowing four earned runs on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts.  James Denton worked 1.2 innings of relief, while Coty Saranthus closed out the final 1.1 innings of scoreless baseball. 

Bankston led ACU with two hits on the day.

Todd, Niemann, McGinnis and Patrick Taylor all collected two hits each for DSU.

The Statesmen travel to Christian Brothers University for a three-game Gulf South Conference series in Memphis, Tenn.  Saturday's doubleheader will begin at noon, while Sunday's single game is slated for 1 p.m.