Box Score

Leading by a single run heading to the eighth inning Friday night in Terre Haute, Indiana, Head Coach Dan Heefner was ready to use every bit of his bullpen to hang on to that lead. Turns out, his Dallas Baptist (27-10) club had different ideas and scored twelve runs in the final two frames to defeat Indiana State, 15-2, in Game 1 of the  three game series. Michael Smith was credited with his fifth save after limiting damage in the seventh inning in relief of Cy Sneed (6-2) and pitching three innings to close out the game. Sneed threw six innings and allowed only two earned runs, even though five of seven leadoff hitters reached base against the freshman. He struck out six and did not walk a batter in the outing.

DBU struck first in the second inning when Landon Anderson singled to lead off the inning and later scored on a Duncan McAlpine single to right. Anderson finished the game with four hits and reached base in all five of his plate appearances. Indiana State would tie the game in the fourth after a double and single started the inning but Sneed pitched around further trouble with a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning.

The Patriots would take a two run lead in the sixth when Boomer Collins collected his only hit of the night with a single up the middle and Joel Hutter doubled to deep left-center to put runners at second and third with no outs. Anderson singled to score Collins and Hutter scored the next at-bat as Jaime Garrido grounded out to shortstop. That 3-1 Patriot lead would last until the seventh when Indiana State chased Sneed from the game with a single and a double to open the frame.

Smith came on with nobody out and runners at second and third in relief of Sneed and quickly recorded a strikeout of Koby Kraemer to get the first out. After a groundout to Hutter scored a run, Smith struck out left fielder Kyle Burnam to end the inning and preserve a one-run Patriot lead.

From there, it was all Patriots. A five run eighth was followed by a seven run ninth as DBU collected four doubles on the night and two triples on back-to-back hits by Austin Elkins and Ronnie Mitchell. Elkins finished the game with three RBI and Mitchell two at the top of the lineup. Along with Elkins and Anderson, Hutter and Michael Miller had the other multi-hit games for DBU, who won their sixth straight game and eleventh of their last twelve.

DBU will look to clinch their eighth series in a row tomorrow as they send Taylor Massey to the mound to face Sean Minaea. Game time is set for 1:00 pm CST. In Dallas, the Patriot Pregame Show will begin at 12:40.


Postgame Interview with Coach Heefner

Postgame Interview with L. Anderson