THE LEAD
No. 25 DBU defeated Valparaiso 2-1 on Thursday night at Horner Ballpark. First baseman Trooper Reynolds went 3-for-3 in the game, including an RBI single to tie the game in the seventh inning.
 
Freshman MD Johnson (2-0) earned the win after striking out two and allowing just one hit in 1 1/3 innings of relief for starting pitcher Colin Poche. Trevor Haas suffered the loss for the Crusaders, giving up two runs on five hits in 6 1/3 innings of work. Seth Elledge picked up his fifth save of the season with a no-hit ninth inning. Poche struck out three and was responsible for Valparaiso's lone run in 6 2/3 innings.
 
DBU made a number of good plays on defense, highlighted by right fielder Justin Wall throwing out Shea Molitor at home plate on a single by Chase Dawson in the fifth inning. Valparaiso finally broke the scoreless affair in the seventh inning on an RBI single by Jake Hanson. After catcher Matt Duce committed a throwing error attempting to throw Hanson out at second, second baseman Luke Stratman corralled the throw and threw out Jeff Edwards at home to end the inning.
 
The Patriots answered in the bottom of the seventh on Reynolds' RBI single, his third hit of the night. Yoder pegged Darick Hall to load the bases and hit Luke Stratman to bring home the go-ahead run.
 
COACH DAN HEEFNER – ON MD JOHNSON'S ROLE IN THE PITCHING STAFF
"MD is a guy we have high expectations for. He has great command in his off speed. We have great confidence in him in that situation."
 
HEEFNER – ON DBU'S DEFENSE IN THE WIN
"In a low-scoring game like this, you have to play defense. It helps when you have a guy like Colin Poche on the mound."
 
TROOPER REYNOLDS – ON THE SEVENTH INNING RALLY
 "This team's relentless. We know we're never out of this game. We did a great job of keeping the energy up."
 
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
 - Colin Poche has held hitters to just four hits in 22 at bats with two outs.
 - The Patriots' pitching staff held the top four batters in Valparaiso's lineup to just one hit and four strikeouts in 15 at bats.
 - Poche holds a team-low 1.14 ERA through four starts this season.
 
IN THE NUMBERS
9 – Camden Duzenack extended his hit streak to a career-high nine games.
6 – The Patriots are riding a season-high six-game win streak.
11 – DBU's offense stranded 11 men on base.
 
UP NEXT FOR THE PATRIOTS
DBU and Valparaiso face off in the third game of the series on Friday, March 11, at 6:30 p.m. at Horner Ballpark. Darick Hall (2-0) takes the mound for the Patriots against Dalton Lundeen (1-2) for the Crusaders.