Box Score

The DBU Patriot Baseball Team earned another walk-off win, Friday, coming back from a late three-run deficit to earn a dramatic 6-5 win over visiting Missouri State University. Austin Listi drilled a three-run homer in the eighth, followed by a walk-off single in the ninth by Mike Wesolowski.
 
The victory moves DBU's record to 30-15 overall, 8-5 in Missouri Valley play. The Bears drop to 19-23, 6-7 in league play. The two clubs continue their conference series, Saturday at 2 p.m., with the finale scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
"This was an outstanding comeback by the guys," said DBU Head Coach Dan Heefner following the win. "This time of year it is important that we finish well, and to win this game is a good start to the weekend."
 
The Patriots jumped on top in the first inning of Friday's contest, scoring a pair of runs on a sacrifice fly by Listi, also capitalizing on an error by shortstop Joey Hawkins to score Daniel Salters from second base.
 
Hawkins redeemed himself in the second, singling up the middle to score a pair of runs. The Bears added two more runs on an infield single and a walk, each with the bases loaded, running the early lead to 4-2.
 
After stalling through the middle innings, it looked like the Patriots found their offensive stroke again in the sixth, as David Martinelli singled, scoring Listi. However, on appeal, it was ruled that Listi missed third base, which tallied the third out and ended the Patriot rally.
 
The Bears then added one insurance run in the eighth, as pinch hitter Aaron Meyer sent a two out, two strike pitch into left field, scoring pinch runner Trey Massenberg from third. The DBU equalizer came in the bottom of the eighth, the three-run long ball off the bat of Listi, scoring Wesolowski and Salters, who previously reached on a single and walk, respectively.
 
After the combination of Drew Smith and Brandon Koch shut the door in the top of the ninth, Drew Turbin singled through the right side with two outs. After Turbin stole second base, Wesolowski singled up the middle, scoring the DBU second baseman and securing the 6-5 win.
 
Koch improves to 5-0 on the season, earning the final out of the ninth inning. With the exception of a difficult four-run second inning, starter Cy Sneed was sharp, working seven innings total. The junior allowed four runs on five hits, striking out seven and walking three. Sean Stutzman allowed an unearned run in a third of an inning, with Smith allowing just one hit and striking out two in 1 1/3 innings.
 
"We thought we might have to take Cy (Sneed) out when he had trouble in the second," added the DBU skipper about his Friday night starter, "but it was great for him to battle and get through the seventh. That's who he is, he's a competitor."
 
Wesolowski led the offensive attack for DBU, earning a pair of hits, knocking in one run and scoring once. Five other players registered one hit, with Listi tallying four RBI and Salters and Turbin each scoring twice.
 
For Missouri State, Zach Merciez took the loss to drop to 1-2, allowing four runs on four hits in 1 2/3 innings. Cody Schumacher allowing two runs, one of them earned, in seven innings in getting no decision. Blake Graham and Patrick Drake each had a pair of hits, both of Drake's coming in the form of doubles. Hawkins led the visiting club with a pair of RBI.