Box Score

Down 4-0 to UT-San Antonio through the first four innings, Dallas Baptist sparked a dramatic come-from-behind rally, to claim a 6-5 win in 12 innings on Tuesday afternoon at Roadrunner Field.  Following a two-out RBI single by KJ Alexander in the top of the 12th that plated Austin Listi with the go-ahead run, DBU closer, Joseph Shaw, took the hill for his fourth inning of work.  With the tying run at second and two out, Shaw recorded his career-high ninth strikeout, capping off the win for the Patriots (6-2).

UTSA (5-3) jumped on DBU early, when Jesse Baker smashed a solo-homerun off of Patriot starter, Cory Taylor in the bottom of the first.  The Roadrunners would tack on three more runs over the next two innings to claim a 4-0 lead through three.

Josh Urban came out of the Patriot bullpen in the fourth and for the next four-plus innings, the senior transfer from the University of Texas, would keep UTSA hitters off-balance, striking out five and allowing just one run. 

Offensively, the Patriots posted three runs in the fifth, beginning with a Mike Wesolowski solo-homerun off of Roadrunner starter, Michael Kraft.  With the bases loaded and two out, Nash Knight delivered a sharp hit single through the right side that plated Listi and Daniel Salters, drawing the Patriots to within one.

In the top of the eighth, trailing 4-3, Camden Duzenack ripped a triple to right-center field off of UTSA closer, Matt Sims.  Wesolowski followed with another big hit, this time a double up the middle, scoring Duzenack to knot the game at four.  The Patriots would add another run, when Salters crushed a ball off the center field wall, scoring the go-ahead run.

After UTSA scratched a run across in the bottom of the eighth, the two clubs remained tied through the ninth.  For the next three innings, DBU's, Shaw, and UTSA's, Wesley Cox, would battle to keep the game tied at five.  Shaw, who had come on in the eight for Urban, worked a career-high 4.2 innings and baffled Roadrunner hitters with a mix of a mid-90's fastball, a slider, and change-up. 

Leading 6-5 in the bottom of the 12th, Shaw surrendered a lead-off single to Logan Kinder.  UTSA's, Jesse Baker, who had gone 0-for-4 with two strikeouts since hitting a homerun in the first, hit a line shot snagged by Knight at third.  Knight's throw to first beat Kinder, completing a crucial double play. 

"Our bullpen was outstanding tonight," DBU Head Coach, Dan Heefner said.  "We knew we had a chance of getting something special when Urban came on board this year and we saw that tonight.  When Shaw came on for Urban in the eighth, he was sharp right from the start.  When he's throwing that mix of pitches and keeping guys off-balance, he can make life difficult on any lineup."

The duo of Urban and Shaw combined to throw nine innings, allowing just one run, walking two, and striking out 14.  Shaw's nine strikeouts is the most by a Patriot pitcher this year and the most since Jake Johansen struck out 10 on April 26, 2013 versus UTSA.

DBU had plenty of opportunities with the runners in scoring position, including four times with the bases loaded.  On the afternoon, the Patriots left 20 runners on base, going 4-for-19 with runners in scoring position.  The big hit came off the bat of Alexander in the top of the 12th with two outs and runners at the corners.  Having gone 0-for-3 with three walks and three strikeouts, Alexander shot a ground ball between short and third and into left field to give the Patriots the lead for good.

"I thought KJ battled all night and had a good approach in his previous at-bats," Heefner remarked.  "He got a good pitch to hit in the first pitch of that at-bat and he delivered."

The win snaps a two-game losing skid and evens DBU's road record to 2-2.  The Patriots return home on Friday night to Horner Ballpark for game one of a four-game series versus the University of Pennsylvania.  First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 pm.

Live audio coverage of Friday's game will be available on the Patriot Broadcasting Network at www.dbupatriots.com/showcase, with the Patriots Pre-Game Show starting at 6:00 pm.