Box Score

FORT WORTH, TX – The Dallas Baptist Patriot Baseball Team secured their first-ever NCAA Division I Baseball Super Regional berth after defeating Oral Roberts University, 11-9, Monday evening at Lupton Stadium. Facing off against the Golden Eagles (39-22) for the second consecutive night, the Patriots (42-18) avenged Sunday night's loss to claim the NCAA Fort Worth Regional Championship.

Junior Jordan Staples got the start for the Patriots but left the game in the first after allowing four runs on two hits. Sophomore Stuart Pudenz picked up the win for DBU after throwing five and two thirds innings, allowing three runs on six hits, and striking out seven. Senior Chris Haney picked up his 15th save of the year after entering in the eighth and holding the remaining five ORU batters hitless.

Just as in games one and two of the regional tournament, the Patriots got off to a blistering start in the top of the first inning as Senior Tyler Robbins reached first on a hit-by-pitch. Junior Landon Anderson stepped up to the plate and delivered an early double up the middle, advancing Robbins to third base. One batter later, Senior Jason Krizan recorded his fourth RBI of the tournament, scoring Robbins and giving DBU the early 1-0 lead. After Junior Joel Hutter drew a walk, Junior Ryan Behmanesh laced a single down the left field line, scoring Anderson from third and extending the Patriot lead, 2-0. Two hits, one ORU error, one walk, and a sacrifice fly later, Anderson stepped up to the plate for the second time in the inning and slapped a two-out double to left field, scoring Sophmore Austin Elkins and Senior Josh Wilson to give the Patriots a commanding, 8-0 lead..

ORU was able to cut the Patriot lead in half in the bottom of the inning. ORU designated hitter, Brandon King delivered the Golden Eagles' second grand slam of the regional tournament, making the score 8-4. Pudenz entered the game to relieve Staples, and managed to get out of the jam after striking out the two final batters of the inning.

DBU came out hot once again in the top of the third as Elkins took a fastball off the back of thigh, providing an early base runner for the Patriots. Shortly after, Wilson laid down a beautiful sacrifice bunt, advancing Elkins to second base. For the 30th time this season, and second time of the game, Robbins reached first base on a hit-by-pitch, setting up a golden opportunity for Anderson. Anderson capitalized with his second RBI of the tournament, a single to right field that scored Elkins for a 9-4 DBU advantage.

The Golden Eagles continued to chip away at the Patriot lead in the bottom of the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings. A sky-high, two-run homerun by ORU's Chris Elder in the fifth made it an 11-6 ballgame, and three hits in the sixth resulted in another pair of Golden Eagle runs that made it 11-8. A sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh proved to be the final run of the night for either team, leaving the score 11-9.

Haney entered the game in the bottom of the eighth, only to find himself in a jam. With ORU runners on second and third and only one out, Haney managed to strike out the two final batters of the inning, securing the Patriots two-run lead for the ninth.

Just like he has done all season, Haney made quick work of the Golden Eagles in the ninth, retiring the first three batters he faced. The final out of the game-a foul pop-up down the third base line-set off the celebration as the Patriots emptied the dugout and flooded the field.

Five Patriots earned a spot on the 2011 Fort Worth Regional All-Tournament Team for their play over the past four days-Hutter, Anderson, Krizan, Williamson, and Haney. Anderson was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player after batting .375 and knocking in four RBI.

The Patriots will advance to this weekend's Super Regional against California University, at a site to be named on Tuesday.