The Dallas Baptist University Patriot Baseball team kicked off their 2006 season on Saturday afternoon at Patriot field, when they took on the Pilots from the University of Portland. The Patriots defeated Portland by the score of 9-8 in 15 innings.

DBU did not waste any time getting on the board, scoring four runs in the first inning. Senior Jeremy Goldschmeding drew a walk and Senior Cody Montgomery followed with a single. Senior Drew Holder doubled off the right field wall to score one run and Senior Garrett Baker followed with a two RBI single. Senior Damian Gomez added a RBI single to push the score to 4-0.

Portland scored one run in the top of the second and threatened with the bases loaded with only one out, but DBU worked out of the jam, leaving the score 4-1.

The Pilots added two runs in the fourth inning on three consecutive doubles and pushed across four more runs in the fifth, taking the lead 7-4.

DBU responded in the seventh inning, after pinch hitter Junior Ross Olson singled to start the inning and Sophomore Austin Krum reached on an error. Montgomery and Holder each followed with RBI singles, making the score 7-6.

Portland scored another run in the ninth, leaving the score 8-6, but DBU came back in the ninth, after Holder reached first after being hit by a pitch and scored on an error by a Pilot outfielder. Freshman Will Stramp followed with the game tying RBI single, making the score 8-8 and forcing extra innings.

DBU scored the winning run in the bottom of the 15th inning, after pinch hitter Freshman Evan Bigley singled to start the inning and Junior Austin Thornton used a sacrifice bunt to push Bigley to second. Krum followed with a single and the Pilot pitcher, Sean Sargant balked with Goldschmeding at the plate, scoring Bigley and giving the Patriots the 9-8 victory in 15 innings.

Junior Brice Wells picked up the win for the Patriots. The Patriots resume action on Monday afternoon in doubleheader action against Portland beginning at 3:00 at Patriot Field.