INSTITUTE, W. Va. — Sophomore lefthander Jared Jacobus (Flemington, N.J.) struck out seven, allowing just two hits and two walks over seven innings in his first start of the season, but West Virginia State plated the game-winner in the bottom of the ninth to earn a 2-1 victory over Caldwell baseball on Sunday at Cal Bailey Field.

The Cougars began the scoring in the top of the second when junior LF Enrique Beltra (Monroe, N.J.) launched a two-out, solo home run to left. The Yellow Jackets (4-7) tied it in the bottom of the third, before Jacobus strung four more zeroes on the board.

But a two-out single down the right field line in the home half of the ninth afforded WVSU the sweep of the three-game weekend set.

Senior DH Stephen Young Jr. (Middlesex, N.J.) had two hits, including a double, for Caldwell, while senior shortstop Christian Rinick (Marlton, N.J.) and senior right fielder Jimmy Kurtz (Buena, N.J.) had a knock apiece.

Next up on the schedule for the Cougars is a three-game series at Staten Island next weekend, with a single game on Friday at 4 p.m. and a doubleheader on Saturday at noon.