Box Score

The Dallas Baptist University Patriot Baseball Team opened the 2011 season with a 9-6 victory over Indiana State Friday afternoon at Patriot Field.

Picking up the win for DBU was Senior Brandon Williamson, pitching five and one third innings, allowing five runs on six hits, and striking out five. Senior Chris Haney picked up his first save of the year, after retiring all three batters in the ninth.

After holding the Sycamores scoreless in the first inning, the Patriots took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the inning. Senior Tyler Robbins reached on a triple down the right field line and Senior Jason Krizan pushed him across the plate with a sacrifice fly.

Indiana State tied the game in the top of the second after a leadoff double resulted in a run two batters later.

After a scoreless third, the Patriots took the lead for good with a six-run fourth. Krizan led off with a walk and was later advanced to second by Junior Joel Hutter's single through the right side. Senior Ryan Behmanesh singled up the middle to score Krizan, making the score 2-1. After Junior Landon Anderson reached on a fielder's choice, Junior Kenny Hatcher singled up the middle, and Senior Josh Wilson drew a walk to load the bases. With two outs and the bases loaded, Sophomore Austin Elkins stepped up and delivered a grand slam over the left field wall, giving DBU a 7-1 lead.

The Sycamores tacked on another run in the fifth, but the Patriots responded with one of their own in the bottom of the inning. Krizan led off with a double down the left field line and later scored on a Sycamore error.

Trailing 8-2, Indiana State scored three in the sixth and one more in the seventh to trim their deficit to just two runs.

DBU responded with a solo run in the bottom of the seventh, thanks to a walk by Krizan and a double from Hutter, putting runners on second and third for the Patriots with no outs. Krizan eventually scored later in the inning on a wild pitch, as the Patriots clinched their home opener, 9-6.

The Patriots will be back in action tomorrow for games two and three against the Sycamores. The first pitch of the double header is set for 1:00 p.m.