Box Score

DBU won their opening round game of the 2008 Southwest Diamond Classic against the University of Nevada on Thursday night, 7-4.  With the victory the Patriots improved to 3-2 overall, while the Wolf Pack fell to 0-4. 

The Wolf Pack jumped out to the early 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning after they loaded the bases on a single, walk, and hit batsman.   Starting pitcher Junior Jordan Meaker then struck out a batter to get two outs in the inning.  Nevada's first baseman then hit a single to left field, which allowed one run to score from third base, but the Patriots ended the inning on a play at the plate.

Nevada extended their lead to 2-0 in the top of the fourth inning off of two singles and a double.  With runners on first and third, Junior Brandon Bantz threw out a runner attempting to steal second and then Meaker worked his way out of the inning getting the final out on a ground out to third base.

The Patriots took the lead from the Wolf Pack in the bottom of the fourth inning on a two out rally.  Freshman Jason Krizan started the rally off with an opposite field solo homerun to left field.  Junior Evan Bigley then reached base on a hit by pitch and advanced to second on a single by Senior Drew Pirtle.  Junior Trevor Head then drove in Bigley and advanced Pirtle to third on an RBI single to center field.  Pirlte then scored the final run of the inning on an RBI single by Sophomore Ryan Goins, which gave the Patriots a 3-2 lead heading into the fifth inning.

DBU extended their lead to 6-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning after Junior Clay Kelly reached base on a single, stole second base, and advanced to third when Krizan reached base on an error by Nevada's left fielder.  Pirtle then scored the third run of the inning when Head drove him in on a single up the middle. 

The Wolf Pack cut the Patriots lead to 6-4 in the top of the sixth inning when they reached base on two walks, a hit batsman, and two singles. 

Senior Nick Santos started off the bottom of the sixth inning with a solid single to left field, which brought up Bantz, who hit an RBI double to left field, giving the Patriots a 7-4 lead.

Picking up the victory for the Patriots was Meaker, who threw 5.0 innings, allowing two earned runs on seven hits, while striking out six.  Freshman Chris Haney came in to pick up the save for DBU after he pitched 3.1 innings, allowing no runs, no hits, and striking out five. 

Leading the Patriots with the bat was Bigley, who went two for three, with two RBI, while Head was two for four, with two RBI.  Kelly ended his night going two for five and one run scored, while Santos and Bantz each had two hits. 

DBU will be in action again on Friday night when they play UTA at the Dr Pepper Ballpark in Frisco, Texas.  The first pitch is scheduled to be thrown at 7:00.