PEMBROKE – Home-standing UNCP negated an early 4-0 deficit with a six-run third inning and fought through a 2-1/2 hour lightning delay to complete a three-game series sweep of Augusta State with a 9-7 victory over the Jaguars on Saturday evening.

The triumph gave the Braves (18-9, 7-7 PBC) their second league series sweep of the season, as well as their fifth-straight series victory over Augusta State (8-20, 1-14). The Jaguars saw their losing streak extended to a season-long seven games, having last tasted victory nearly two weeks ago via a home twinbill sweep of St. Andrews.

Josh Haley walked and scored twice on a 2-for-3 night to pace the Braves, who also got multi-hit performances from Aaron Parnell (2-for-5, RBI) and Jordan Edgerton (2-for-4, RBI) as well. Kyle Adair drove in three runs on a 1-for-5 hitting line, while Chad Whitehead walked and scored a pair of runs on a 1-for-3 showing. Curtis Parker (2-for-5) and Jeff Rice (2-for-4) both homered for Augusta State, who also got two-hit outings from Caleb Saggus and Clay Tucker.

Freshman Jordan DeLoatch (3-0) yielded six runs (four earned) on seven hits and a trio of walks in five innings of work, but still picked up the win for the Braves after striking out six as well. Braxton Lewis grabbed his eighth save of the season by recording the last two outs of the contest. Starter Dylan Wall (0-4), the first of six pitchers on the night for ASU, saddled the loss for the visitors after surrendering six earned runs on four hits and three walks in just two innings of work.

Augusta State utilized an ill-timed fielding error by the Braves to plate a pair of runs in the first, and then scored twice more in the second to stretch the advantage out to 4-0. The lead would be short-lived, however, as UNCP sent 10 batters to the plate in the third and utilized five hits and a walk to score six runs and take a lead it would not relinquish.

The Braves padded their lead out to 8-4 on RBI knocks by both Parnell and Adair in the fourth, but the Jaguars scratched the scoreboard for a pair of runs in the fifth to claw themselves to within a pair of runs right before a 90-minute lightning delay. Following the second of two delays on the night, the Braves would plate an insurance run on Jordan Edgerton's RBI single up the middle, before Parker's towering blast with one out in the ninth provided the final.

UNCP will continue its 10-game home stand on Wednesday when the Braves welcome region rival Coker (14-16) back to Sammy Cox Field for the season series rubber game between the two squads. First pitch has been set for 5 p.m.

To watch the full game click HERE.