Box Score

In a pitcher's duel between Dallas Baptist's, Paul Voelker, and Missouri State's, Cody Schumacher, the Patriots snatched a 1-0 win in game one of a three-game series.  Voelker  tossed a career-high eight shutout innings for DBU (13-4) before giving way to Brandon Koch in the ninth.  With two outs and the tying run standing at second base, Koch induced a ground ball that he took himself, beating Spencer Johnson to first base to preserve the team's sixth one run win of the season. 

After Voelker surrendered a lead-off single in the first, the junior right-hander from Plymouth, Minnesota, did not allow another hit until Johnson reached on a single with one out in the bottom of the seventh.  Voelker struck out eight batters on the afternoon and retired 11 in a row from the third through seventh innings.

MSU's (8-7) Cody Schumacher was just as effective, throwing eight shutout innings and matching Voelker's strike out total of eight.  Scoreless in the top of the ninth, Schumacher gave way to redshirt-freshman, Bryan Young, who worked himself into a jam with a pair of walks, including a two-out walk to KJ Alexander that put runners at first and second.

With two outs and the go-ahead run standing at second base, Trevin Sonnier delivered an RBI single up the middle, scoring Daniel Salters from second base and breaking the scoreless tie.

After Koch retired the first two batters he faced in the ninth, he worked himself into a jam with back-to-back walks before getting the ground out to win the game.

With the win, DBU is off to their best start in program history since they joined the NCAA Division I ranks.  The Patriots are also a win shy of matching the best overall start since the 2001 season, when DBU posted a 14-4 record.

Tomorrow, Dallas Baptist and Missouri State will play a double-header beginning at noon.  Sunday's game was moved up to tomorrow, due to the precipitation expected to arrive in Springfield, Missouri, within the next 24 hours.

Cy Sneed will start game one of tomorrow's twin-bill and Cory Taylor is scheduled to take the hill in the series finale. 
Fans can follow tomorrow's action on the Patriot Broadcasting Network (www.dbupatriots.com/showcase) beginning with the Patriot Pre-Game Show at 11:30 am.