NEWARK, Del — Close games are fun for fans to watch, and for players to play in. The only downside to a hard-fought, exciting contest is that one team eventually has to lose.

That team usually doesn't have quite as much fun.

The Penn State baseball team is finding that out the hard way these days, as the Lions (6-14) dropped a 4-3 heartbreaker to Delaware in 10 innings yesterday, its fifth one-run loss of the season.

Right fielder Chris Kolodzey scored on a bunt single by center fielder Reid Gorecki with two outs in the bottom of the tenth, giving the Blue Hens (9-5) their eighth straight win and a three-game sweep of the weekend series.

Delaware defeated Penn State 9-5 in a seven-inning contest Saturday, then pounded out 16 hits in a 15-7 win that spanned two days. Play was suspended after six innings in Game 2 of the Saturday doubleheader due to darkness, and the Hens and the Lions wrapped up the final three innings yesterday morning.

The Hens totaled 24 runs and 26 hits Saturday while taking advantage of a sloppy Lions defense that committed seven errors. Penn State pitching also struggled on the overcast, rainy afternoon, issuing 10 walks and hitting three Delaware batters.

"If most of our pitchers would have gotten ahead (in the count) today, it would have been a different story," said junior Justin Nash, who took the loss in Game 1 after giving up six runs in 1 1/3 innings. Penn State freshman David Aardsma made an even quicker exit in the second game, surrendering eight runs to a relentless Delaware attack.

Delaware baseball coach Jim Sherman, who has seen his team hit .306 through 14 games this season, said that two key throwing errors by Nash and reliever Mike Watson "kind of gave us an added momentum."

"It seemed like it was our day," Sherman added. "And not Penn State's day."

Sunday's game offered a complete contrast to Saturday's action, from everything to the scoreboard -- the teams scored a combined three runs through the first seven innings -- to the weather, with clouds giving way to sunshine and a strong wind.

The only thing that didn't change was Delaware's winning streak.

Although Penn State senior Dan McCall pitched masterfully, handcuffing the middle of the Delaware lineup and preserving a 2-1 Penn State lead through 7 2/3 innings, he couldn't completely close the door on the Hens. Senior designated hitter Frank Fresconi drilled a two-run homer to right center with two outs in the bottom of the eighth to put the Hens on top.

The Lions responded with a run in the top of the ninth, as DH Doug Rodio drove home center fielder Zach Smithlin with a two-out single, but Lions freshman Aaron Tressler, who came on for McCall in the eighth, allowed a one-out walk to Kolodzey in the tenth. Two batters later, Gorecki laid a beautiful bunt down the third-base line and beat out Mike DeRenzo's throw as Kolodzey crossed home.

Penn State baseball coach Joe Hindelang was pleased with his team's improvement from Saturday to Sunday — the Lions played error-free ball and banged out 12 hits — but could not mask his disappointment with the overall result.

"If we play like this, we can win a lot of games," he said. "But it's not a win, and it hurts."