NEWARK, Del. -- Back-to-back home runs by Delaware in the bottom of the fourth broke up a 1-1 tie and lifted the home-standing Blue Hens to a 3-2 victory over visiting Missouri State here Saturday in game two of the Conference USA softball series.

The Bears (14-14, 3-5 CUSA) were led by Lauren Rowland's two hits, while Halle Studer had a sacrifice and a double on the afternoon, and Paityn Engemann pitched 2.2 scoreless innings in relief.

The Bears struck first with a two-out RBI double from Rowland in the top of the first, but Delaware responded in the home half on an RBI base hit by catcher Sydney Shaffer.

The Blue Hens broke up the 1-1 tie in the bottom of the fourth on back-to-back home runs Bridget Chapman and Maddie Diamond to push ahead 3-1. MSU's Engemann then came out of the bullpen in relief of starter Emily Koranda (7-7) to put out the fire with a strikeout and a groundout to send the game to the fifth.

Missouri State got one of the runs back in the top of the fifth on a two-out double from Studer that chased Delaware starter Karli Challburg (4-2).

Missouri State had hits in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to pose a threat, but were unable to scratch across the tying run with Blue Hens reliever Josie Crossman pitching 2.1 innings in relief to earn the save.

The clubs will square off again on Sunday at 11 a.m. (Central) in the final game of the three-game set.