Box Score

Thanks to a late home run from Justin Wall and two shutout innings from Brandon Koch, the DBU Patriot Baseball Team completed a 5-4 win over visiting Oral Roberts University, Friday night at Horner Ballpark. The game-winning home run for Wall comes exactly one week after a bases loaded, walk-off single, Feb.28 against Penn.
 
Cy Sneed worked seven innings for the Patriots on the mound, getting no decision after allowing four runs, three of them earned, on seven hits, striking out six and walking four. Koch came on work the eighth and ninth, allowing no hits, striking out three and walking one. The sophomore now stands at 3-0 on the season with a sparkling 0.75 earned run average.
 
"Brandon (Koch) has been outstanding," said DBU Head Coach Dan Heefner as his team improved to 10-4. "I don't know if we're going to see a better breaking ball than he has. He has the hot hand right now, so you have to keep going with it."
 
ORU opened the scoring in the top of the first, scoring a single run with a hustle play from leadoff hitter Emmanuel Forcier. After walking and advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt, Forcier scored on an infield single by third baseman Jose Trevino. The single up the middle was stabbed by a diving Trevin Sonnier, who jumped up and fired to first. Trevino beat the throw however, allowing Forcier, who never broke stride, to score from second base.
 
The Patriots countered with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the first, taking the 2-1 lead. Nash Knight led off with a single to right, followed by Austin Listi reaching on a single two batters later. Daniel Salters stepped up next, drilling a double over right fielder Tyler Boss, scoring Knight, followed by Listi scoring on a Justin Wall single.
 
DBU added another pair of runs in the bottom of the third, as Salters and Wall each scored on a David Martinelli double, running the Patriot lead to 4-1. The Golden Eagles quickly countered with a single run in the fourth, as Logan Domenico crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly from Audie Afenir.
 
Following quiet fifth and sixth innings, the Golden Eagles evened the contest at four, as Matt Brandy sent a long ball over the left field wall, scoring Brandon Healy. DBU put things away for good with Wall's big fly in the bottom of the eighth, with Koch shutting the door to complete the 5-4 win.
 
"Justin (Wall) is a guy who has a plan at the plate," added the DBU skipper. "He showed that today. He had the big home run that everyone will remember, but he also had an RBI single and beat out an infield hit that led to a run, really several good at bats today."
 
Wall's three hits led an eight-hit Patriot attack, also leading the way with a pair of runs, tying Martinelli for a team-best two RBI. The freshman registered a pair of hits, including the two-run double. Knight and Listi each had one hit and scored once, with Salters drilling a double, scoring once and knocking in one.
 
For ORU (6-7), who snaps a five-game win streak, Brandy and Trevino each earned a pair of hits, combining for three RBI. Hayden Holley (0-1) worked 1/3 of an inning, allowing the home run to Wall to take the loss. Guillermo Trujillo worked seven innings, allowing four runs on six hits in receiving no decision.
 
The rubber match of the series will be played, Saturday, with a scheduled start time of 2 p.m.