Box Score

On a day in which runs were at a premium in game one of the Fort Worth Regional, the Dallas Baptist Patriots dropped a 2-1 decision to Sam Houston State on Friday afternoon at Lupton Stadium.  A two out single in the top of the eighth off the bat of Travis Lee broke a 1-1 tie and proved to be the difference, as DBU (40-20) must now work their way through the loser's side of the bracket. 

Making the 49th start of his career, DBU junior, Cy Sneed, kept the Patriots in the game after surrendering a run in the second inning.  After a two out single by Luke Pluchek plated the game's first run, Sneed settled in to toss four scoreless frames.

In the top of the fifth, the Patriots' right-hander worked out of a bases loaded jam with two outs, striking out Sam Houston State's (42-17) Carter Burgess on a 3-2 pitch.

The DBU offense responded to the Sneed strikeout with a David Martinelli double to start the home half of the fifth.  On a ball that hit off the top of the right field wall, Martinelli cruised into second to represent the tying run.  After Bearkats' starter, Tyler Eppler, issued a walk to KJ Alexander, the Patriots had runners at first and second with nobody out.  Following a strikeout of Nash Knight, DBU shortstop, Camden Duzenack ripped his third hit of the day on a single to left.  With the bases loaded, Drew Turbin reached on a fielder's choice, allowing Martinelli to touch home and tie the game.

In the top of the sixth, Sneed once again averted trouble, this time with runners at second and third and just one out.  A soft floater to shallow left off the bat of Lee dropped into the glove of Duzenack, keeping both runners on the bag.  With two outs, Colt Atwood hit a chopper to first to retire the side and keep the game tied at one.

Josh Urban came out of the pen in the seventh to work a scoreless frame, before giving way to Patriot closer, Brandon Koch, in the eighth.  Entering the game with the go-ahead run at second base, Koch struck out the first man he faced in Plucheck.  With two outs and facing Lee, Sam Houston State's number nine hitter laced a pitch into center, scoring Corey Toups from second base.

Down 2-1 in the bottom of the eighth, DBU's top of the order in Duzenack, Turbin, and Mike Wesolowski all struck out versus left-hander Alan Scott.  After Koch worked a scoreless ninth, the Patriots made one last effort in the ninth to tie the game. 

A one out single by Austin Listi put the tying run on base as Justin Wall came to the plate.  On what would be the controversial call of the day, a Wall two-hopper to the second baseman Shea Pierce, resulted in a high throw to shortstop Corey Toups.  With the ball coming out of the glove of Toups on the throw to the bag, second base umpire, Jay Ahser, made an emphatic, "out," call and signaled that Toups dropped the ball on the transfer. 

In what could have been first and second and one out, DBU faced a two out situation with a runner at first.  Down to their final out, Scott closed out the game with a strikeout out of Martinelli.

With the loss, Dallas Baptist will return to Lupton Stadium tomorrow afternoon to face the loser of the TCU versus Siena game.  First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 pm.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
1-for-6     Dallas Baptist with runners in scoring position today
5              Number of hits from the two freshman in DBU's lineup: Camden Duzenack had a three-hit day, while David Martinelli picked up two, including
                a double.
1              In 57 career appearances, Josh Urban suffered the first loss of his four-year career.,
3201        Attendance at today's game