Box Score
The Patriots Baseball Team defeated the #12 ranked Rice Owls for the second time this season on Wednesday night in Houston, Texas. DBU won the first game between the two on March 5 in Frisco, Texas, 7-6 in 12 winnings. Wednesday nights 3-2 victory improved the Patriots record to 17-9, while Rice fell to 20-10.
DBU did not waste anytime scoring two runs on three hits and chasing starting pitcher Lucas Luetge from the game in the top of the first inning. Sophomore Austin Knight singled to right center field and advanced to second on a walk by Junior Evan Bigley. Junior Trevor Head drove in Knight for the first run of the inning on a single through the right side. Bigley, who advanced to second on the single, stole third base. Senior Nick Santos then drove a deep sacrifice RBI fly ball to center field, which allowed Bigley to score the second run.
Rice cut the Patriots lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning after Doug Simmons walked and scored on a RBI double by Jimmy Comerota.
The Owls tied the game and chased starting pitcher Sophomore Victor Black from the game in the bottom of the sixth inning. Black pitched 5.0 innings, allowing one earned, on five hits, and striking out four. Rice manufactured the run after leading the inning off with a single and then an error by Santos, allowed a runner to get into scoring position. With two outs in the inning, Simmons singled to left field, which allowed the tying run to score.
Santos led off the eighth inning by reaching base and advancing to second on a throwing error by the Owls shortstop. Sophomore Ryan Goins then laid down the sacrifice bunt to advance Santos to third base and an error by the pitcher allowed Goins to reach base as well. Junior Brandon Bantz then drove in Santos from third base on a RBI sacrifice fly, which turned out to be the winning run.
Freshman Chris Haney and Senior Tyson Bagley combined to shut down the Owls for the final four innings, with Haney picking up the win and Bagley the save. Haney pitched 2.1 innings, allowing no runs on two hits, while Bagley threw 1.2 innings, allowing no runs on two hits, and striking out one.
Santos went two for three, with one RBI and a run scored to lead the way at the plate, while Knight finished his night two for five, with a run scored. Six other Patriots had at least one hit, with Head and Bantz each picking up an RBI.
DBU will be in action again on Friday when they take on the University of Northern Colorado at Patriot Field, for a 3:00 game.
