Box Score

The Dallas Baptist Baseball Team's eight-game win streak finally came to an end with a 3-1 loss on Sunday versus Illinois State at Duffy Bass Field in Normal, Illinois.  The loss snaps a season-long win streak and hands the Patriots (23-8, 5-1) their first loss in the Missouri Valley Conference.

In another pitcher's duel between the two clubs, Illinois State's Dylan Craig outlasted DBU's Cory Taylor, striking out 10 batters on the afternoon.  Taylor took the tough luck loss, his first of the season, tossing five scoreless innings, before allowing three runs in the sixth. 

With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, a chopper up the middle off the bat of Mike Hollenbeck scored the first run of the game.  Following back-to-back walks issued by Taylor, Jack Czeszewski singled to left to drive in two more runs, giving Illinois State (19-10, 5-4) a 3-0 advantage.

The Redbirds would hold onto the 3-0 lead through eight innings before Craig was lifted for closer, David Suarez.  The right-hander retired the first two batters he faced in Justin Wall and Daniel Salters before Austin Listi laced a double down the left field line.  Nash Knight followed suit with another double to left, plating Listi and putting the Patriots on the board.  The run was only the second earned run of the season allowed by Suarez and his first since February 21, a span of 12.1 innings.

With two outs and the tying run at the plate, Suarez induced a sharp ground ball off the bat of KJ Alexander to ISU second baseman, Paul DeJong, for the final out.

"Craig did a great job of commanding both sides of the plate and executed his pitches all day," DBU Head Coach, Dan Heefner, said following the game.  "We've got to do a better job though of being aggressive early in the count and having a better approach with two strikes than we did today."

The loss ends an eight-game win streak for the Patriots, as DBU falls one victory shy of matching the club's longest win streak since the 2009 season, when DBU rattled off nine straight wins.

The Patriots return home for a Tuesday night game at Horner Ballpark versus the TCU Horned Frogs.  First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 pm.

Fans can catch all the action with a live video and audio feed on the Patriot Broadcasting Network (www.dbupatriots.com/showcase), beginning with the Patriot Pre-Game Show at 6:00 pm.