Box Score

The Patriot Baseball team improved to 9-7 on the season with a victory on Thursday evening against the Rockets from the University of Toledo at Patriot Field.  The Patriots won the game by a final score of 10-5. 

The Rockets struck first, scoring on a solo homerun by Scott Boley, to take an early 1-0 lead. 

The Patriots responded with four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.  Senior Jimmy Thoma led off the inning with a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Sophomore Brandon Bantz.  Sophomore JT Bloodworth followed with a two-run homerun over the left field fence, his first collegiate homerun.  Junior Austin Krum reached first after being hit by a pitch and scored on a RBI double by Freshman Austin Knight.  Knight stole third base and scored on a RBI foul out by Senior Garrett Baker. 

Toledo added two runs in the top of the seventh inning, chasing starter Sophomore Jordan Meaker from the game, who pitched six and two thirds innings, allowing three runs on eight hits, while striking out seven.  Meaker left the game with the score 5-3, giving way to Senior Randall Taylor. 

In the bottom of the seventh, DBU struck again, scoring one run, after Bantz was beaned and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Bloodworth.  Bantz moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a throwing error by the catcher.

Toledo scored two more runs in the top of the eighth, both unearned on a throwing error by Taylor, allowing both runners to score, tying the game 5-5. 

Tucker led off the eighth inning, with a double and pinch hitter Freshman Bo Coffman drew a walk.  Thoma reached first on a single and Bantz followed with a two RBI double, giving DBU the lead 7-5.  Bloodworth added a RBI groundout and Krum walked to set up a two RBI double by Knight, pushing the DBU lead to 10-5. 

Taylor picked up the win, improving to 2-1 on the year, pitching two and one-thirds innings allowing two unearned runs and striking out seven batters.  Leading DBU at the plate was Knight, who went two for four with three RBI and Thoma, who went two for three on the evening.  Tucker added two hits and Bloodworth had three RBI on the night.   

The Patriots resume action on Saturday afternoon in doubleheader action at Patriot Field, against Toledo at noon and Missouri at 7:30.