Box Score

The Patriots defeated the SFA Lumberjacks 7-3 on Tuesday night by riding the right arm of Freshman Jared Stafford, who made his first collegiate start.   Stafford threw 5.0 innings, allowing three runs, with one being earned, on two hits, while striking out five to give him his first win as a Patriot. With the victory, DBU is now 27-11, while SFA fell to 14-25.

DBU raced out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning after Sophomore Ryan Goins singled, which brought up Junior Evan Bigley, who hit a two-run homerun to left center field.

SFA tied the score at 2-2 in the top of the fourth inning after they managed to get the first two runners on base with a walk and hit batsman.  A single down the left field line allowed the first run to score and then error by DBU's left fielder Sophomore Ryan Enos allowed the base runners to move into scoring position.  The Lumberjacks then hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score the second run of the inning.

The Patriots regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning after they started their rally with four consecutive singles, which allowed the go ahead run to score and for the bases to be loaded.  Enos then drove a two RBI single to left field to give DBU a 5-2 lead heading into the fifth inning.

The Lumberjacks pushed a run across the board in the top of the fifth to make the score 5-3.  The Patriots answered SFA's run in the bottom half of the fifth after Bigley led off with a double and then scored on a two run bomb by Senior Drew Pirtle, which made the score 7-3.

Closing out the game on the mound for the Patriots was a trio of pitchers, including Freshmen Josh Wilson and Chris Haney and Senior Brett Lester.  The three pitchers combined to throw 4.0 innings, allowing no runs, on two hits, and striking out three.

The Patriots continued to swing the bat well by smashing 14 hits on eight different Lumberjack pitchers.  Junior Brandon Bantz led the way going three for four, with one run, and an RBI, while Bigley was two for four, with two runs scored, and two RBI.  

DBU will continue play when they travel to Greeley, Colorado, to play in a three game series with the University of Northern Colorado on April 25 and 26.