THE LEAD
No. 25 DBU defeated Valparaiso 9-2 in the series finale on Saturday at Horner Ballpark. In his first career start, third baseman Tim Millard hit a two-out grand slam in the second inning to ignite the Patriot offense.
 
Starting pitcher Dalton Higgins (2-1) earned the win after allowing two runs on five hits with one strikeout in 5 2/3 innings. Mario Losi (1-2) suffered the loss, giving up eight runs on six hits in five innings of work.
 
After Losi loaded the bases with back-to-back walks, Millard launched the first pitch he saw over the fence in left field. DBU extended its lead to 5-0 in the fourth inning on an RBI double by shortstop Camden Duzenack, knocking in center fielder Jameson Hannah. After stealing third base, Duzenack crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly off the bat of catcher Matt Duce.
 
Valparaiso got on the board with runners on the corners in the sixth inning when Daniel Delaney singled through the gap between first and second base to score Nate Palace. After Higgins loaded the bases with one out, coach Dan Heefner went to the bullpen and brought MD Johnson into the game. Johnson walked his first batter to bring Shea Molitor home to trim the lead to 6-2. The Patriots got out of the jam when Jeff Edwards lined out to Millard, who doubled-up Josh Clark at second.
 
Luke VanLanen entered the game for Losi in the bottom of the sixth and missed the zone on eight of his first nine pitches, walking Duzenack to load the bases and walking Duce to extend the lead to 7-2. On the following pitch, VanLanen threw a wild pitch, allowing Hannah to come home. DBU went up 9-2 on VanLanen's third walk of the inning, allowing Duzenack to score.
 
COACH DAN HEEFNER – ON DALTON HIGGINS' OUTING
"Dalton did a really good job for us. He kept attacking hitters and never gave in. We knew it was a matter of time before he gave us a quality start."
 
HEEFNER – ON MILLARD'S GRAND SLAM
"You love to see a guy like him succeed like that. I'm happy to see a guy rewarded for the work he put in."
 
TIM MILLARD – ON HIS SECOND-INNING GRAND SLAM
"Being at the bottom of the order, I figured I was going to get that first pitch fastball. I got it and just put the best swing I could on it."
 
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
 - The bottom three batters in the Patriots' lineup went 3-for-7 with seven RBIs and five runs scored.
 - DBU's pitching staff held the Crusaders to just four hits in 16 at bats with runners on base.
 - Patriots hitters saw more balls (81) than strikes (78) from the Valparaiso pitching staff.
 
IN THE NUMBERS
5 – The Patriots recorded five two-out RBIs.
9 – DBU racked up nine extra-base hits in the series against Valparaiso.
8 – The Patriots recorded their eighth error-free game of the season on Saturday.
 
UP NEXT FOR THE PATRIOTS
DBU hosts Oklahoma State on Tuesday, March 15, at 6:30 p.m.