THE LEAD
No. 9 Dallas Baptist used a strong pitching performance from the trio of Joseph Shaw, Chance Adams, and Brandon Koch, to win their 40th game of the season, as the Patriots won 2-1 over Wichita State on Thursday night at Horner Ballpark.  With the win, it marks the first time in the program's history that DBU (40-10) has won 40 games during the regular season.
 
On the mound, Shaw improved to 10-2 on the season after tossing five shutout innings.  Adams entered in relief of Shaw in the sixth and matched a season-high with seven strikeouts, while Koch closed out the game to earn his 14th save of the season.  Koch is now just two saves shy of Chris Haney's all-time school record of 25 saves and two away from matching Ted Hebert and Clint Davis' single-season saves record of 16.

In the top of the first, Shaw escaped a bases loaded nobody out situation to retire three straight batters and get out of the inning unscathed.  From there, the Patriots' starter cruised through the next four innings, striking out five Wichita State (23-30) batters and walking just one. 

Scoreless into the top of the third, Chane Lynch put DBU on the board with a solo home run over the wall in left.  It was Lynch's fourth home run of the year and staked DBU to a 1-0 lead.

Still holding onto a one-run lead into the sixth inning, the Patriots put runners on the corners with one out.  With Lynch at the plate, a pick-off move to third base by Shockers' catcher, Gunnar Troutwine, skipped past Chase Rader at third and into left field, allowing Tagg Duce to score and extend DBU's lead to two.

Wichita State responded with a run in the seventh, as Sam Hilliard sent a shot over the wall in right centerfield to pull the Shockers to within one.  That would be as close as Wichita State would come, as Adams kept the Shockers scoreless into the eighth before handing the game over to Koch.

In the ninth, Wichita State's, Trey Vickers, opened the inning with an infield single.  Micheal Burns would come in to pinch run for Vickers and advanced to second on a successful sacrifice bunt by Daniel Kihle. With one out and the tying run standing in scoring position, Koch struck out Sam Hilliard and Ryan Tinkham to preserve the win.

DBU HEAD COACH, DAN HEEFNER – ON WINNING 40 GAMES
"40 wins is the big number in college baseball, so for us to be able get that in the regular season is a great accomplishment and is a testament to what this team has done this year."
 
DBU HEAD COACH, DAN HEEFNER – ON THE PITCHING PERFORMANCE TONIGHT
"Joseph Shaw just keeps getting better and better with each start and tonight he was especially sharp.  Chance Adams' arm was alive tonight and he came in and gave us some solid innings and then you can't take Brandon Koch for granted and what he does.  He came in and was big time as well for us."
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
14 – Joseph Shaw has not allowed a run in 14 consecutive innings, dating back to his start on May 1 at Charlotte.
1 – Shaw needs one more win to match Jeff Gilmore's single-season record of 11 wins, set in 2004.
3 – Camden Duzenack put together a three-hit night.

UP NEXT FOR THE PATRIOTS
DBU and Wichita State meet in game two of their three game series on Friday at 6:30 pm.  Prior to first pitch, the Patriots will honor the five seniors on this year's team, including Jay Calhoun, Tagg Duce, Nash Knight, Chane Lynch, and Drew Turbin.