THE LEAD
An eight-run third inning helped erase a 3-0 deficit, as No. 16 Dallas Baptist cruised to a 10-3 win over Bradley on Friday night at Horner Ballpark.  Playing in front of a crowd of 1,373, DBU (25-6, 7-3) sent 14 batters to the plate in the bottom of the third and pounded out seven hits, giving Patriot starter, Joseph Shaw, all the runs he would need, as he cruised to his sixth win of the year.
 
After Shaw gave up a solo home run to the Braves', Paul Solka, in the second, Bradley (21-8, 2-2) tacked on two more runs in the third to jump out to a 3-0 lead.  The Patriots' half of the third opened with Daniel Sweet being hit-by-a-pitch from Bradley starter, Elliot Ashbeck, on a 1-2 count.  After Nash Knight was issued a walk, Drew Turbin blasted his second home run of the year, tying the game at three apiece with a shot over the wall in left. 

Two batters later, Justin Wall smashed a towering two-run homer to left to give DBU a 5-3 lead.  Ashbeck would not survive the third inning, as a sacrifice fly from Martinelli, an RBI single from Chane Lynch, and a Bradley error extended the score to 8-3 at the end of three.  Ashbeck, who entered with a 7-1 record and a 2.17 ERA, would allow eight runs over his two-and-two-third innings of work.

Still up by five into the bottom of the seventh, Lynch connected on the Patriots' third home run of the night and his second of the season on a blast over the wall in right center.  In the eighth, Daniel Salters delivered a double into the gap in right, scoring Wall from third to make it 10-3 Patriots.

After seven solid innings from Shaw, who struck out four on the night and walked just one, freshman, Seth Elledge, came out of the pen to retire the side in order in the eighth and ninth innings.

The win is the 16th consecutive for DBU at home, dating back to the regular season series finale last year versus Southern Illinois, when the Patriots swept the Salukis.  The 16 game home winning streak ranks as the longest current streak in the nation.

DBU HEAD COACH, DAN HEEFNER – ON THE OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION IN THE THIRD INNING
"It all started with Daniel Sweet being able to battle in a two-strike count and get hit-by-a-pitch to lead-off the inning.  That's something we've put an emphasis on a lot is being able to put pressure on the defense when we are in two strike situations and we had a number of at-bats in that inning where we were able to produce a hit in a two-strike count."
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
9 – All nine Patriots reached base safely tonight.
2 – Paul Solka's home run in the second inning is just the second home run hit this year by an opponent at Horner Ballpark.
12 – The Patriots three home runs tonight runs their season total to 12 round trippers hit at Horner Ballpark this year.
6 – DBU's 10 runs tonight marks the sixth time that the Patriots have scored in double-digits at home this year.
 
UP NEXT
DBU and Bradley meet in game two of their three game series on Saturday.  First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 pm.