Box Score

The DBU Patriot Baseball Team completed the weekend sweep of Mississippi Valley State University with a 14-2 win, Sunday afternoon at Horner Ballpark. The Patriots move to 3-0 after wins of 19-0 and 19-3 in games one and two, respectively.
 
Drew Smith was outstanding on the mound, making his second career start. The sophomore worked five shutout innings to get the win, allowing no hits, striking out five and walking one. Philip Orr, Brandon Koch, Joseph Shaw, and Caulin Cragle each worked one inning of relief, combining to allow two runs on three hits. Koch struck out three in his inning of work, with Caulin Cragle registering a pair of punchouts.
 
"I wanted to go out and try for the no-hitter," said Smith following the win. "But I know there are bigger things at stake, we needed to get work for everyone."  
 
"Drew was really outstanding," said DBU Head Coach Dan Heefner. "We are really excited about him getting to start. He was outstanding all through the fall, and really is everything you can ask for in a pitcher, he's a hard worker."
 
Continuing the offensive explosion of the previous two games, the Patriots came out swinging in the first inning, scoring three runs thanks to a wild pitch, RBI single by Austin Listi, and an RBI triple from Daniel Salters.
 
The Patriots continued to score in a variety of ways in the second frame, beginning with a single from Camden Duzenack, scoring Tagg Duce. Nash Knight scored during the next at bat, advancing on a balk by MVSU starter Tyji Hawkins. Two more runs came across on RBI singles by Listi and Salters.
 
The Patriots added two runs in the third, and three in fifth, including the first career home run for David Martinelli, a monster solo shot over the center field wall. DBU added one more in the sixth, another solo shot, this time coming from Salters.
 
MVSU got on the board in the top of the seventh, as Xzavier Franklin scored on a Brady McBride single to right field, moving the score to 13-1. The Patriots and Delta Devils traded runs, scoring in the bottom of the eighth and top of the ninth, respectively, moving to the eventual final of 14-2.
 
Salters earned three hits in three official plate appearances, knocking in three runs, scoring once, and tallying a pair of walks. Camden Duzenack continues his torrid pace, going 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles, one run batted in, scoring twice. For the weekend, the freshman finished 11-for-14 with seven doubles, 13 RBI, and eight runs scored.
 
KJ Alexander, Listi, and Duce each registered two-hit games, combining for five RBI and four runs scored. All totaled, the Patriots tallied 15 hits, seven of them for extra bases. Defensively, DBU committed three errors, compared to four for the visitors.
 
The Delta Devils drop to 0-3, getting two hits from McBride, including the RBI single. Hawkins (0-1) worked three innings, allowing nine runs, eight of them earned, on nine hits.
 
Following a short break, Monday, the Patriots return to Horner Ballpark to host Grambling State University, Tuesday evening at 6:30. They then take to the road, competing in a weekend series at Sam Houston State University.