THE LEAD
No. 15 Dallas Baptist overcame an early 2-0 deficit in the first inning to win 6-2 over Illinois State in game one of a three game series at Horner Ballpark on Friday night.  A solid start from Joseph Shaw, who allowed two runs over six innings, combined with three shutout frames from Chance Adams, helped pave the way for the Patriots' comeback win.
 
After surrendering two runs in the first, DBU (20-3, 3-1) responded with a run in the second when Nash Knight grounded out, scoring Tagg Duce from third.  Down a run into the fourth, the Patriots tied the game on an RBI single from Knight into left-center that plated Duce.
 
Still knotted at two apiece in the fifth, DBU's Justin Wall advanced from first to third on a throwing error by Illinois State (11-11, 0-1) starter, Will Headen, on a pick-off move.  With one out and Wall at third, Duce's slow chopper to short with the infield drawn in allowed the go-ahead run to score.
 
After Joseph Shaw departed in the sixth, Chance Adams came out of the pen to silence the Redbirds offense the rest of the way, tossing three scoreless innings.  Adams would allow just one hit and walked a pair, while striking out four. 

Leading 3-2 in the bottom of the eighth, the Patriots added three more insurance runs, as a Nash Knight single, a Chane Lynch double, and a Camden Duzenack sacrifice bunt each led to runs.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
9 – DBU has won their first nine games at Horner Ballpark this year.
4 – Illinois State committed four errors, while the Patriots played errorless baseball.
100 – Joseph Shaw reached the century mark in career strikeouts tonight.
 
NEXT UP FOR THE PATRIOTS
DBU and Illinois State meet in game two of a three game series on Saturday at Horner Ballpark.  First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 pm.