THE LEAD
DBU defeated Southern Illinois 5-2 on Friday night at Horner Ballpark to remain undefeated (3-0) in Missouri Valley Conference play. First baseman Darick Hall went 3-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs, which came on a two-run homerun to produce the final score.
 
Starting pitcher Colin Poche (5-0) earned the win after striking out eight in six innings. Joey Marciano (2-4) suffered the loss, giving up five runs on seven hits in 4.1 innings. Dalton Higgins threw three innings of scoreless baseball to pick up his first save of the season.
 
With runners on the corners in the first inning, left fielder Austin Listi singled in Luke Stratman to put the Patriots on the board first. DBU added a second run when Logan Blackfan committed a fielding error that allowed Hall to cross home plate. In the second inning, the Patriots extended the lead to 3-0 on a sacrifice fly off the bat of center fielder Jameson Hannah.
 
The Salukis got on the board in the fifth inning after Connor Kapach advanced to third on a past ball and scored on a wild pitch. SIU trimmed the lead to 3-2 on a sacrifice fly by Greg Lambert. DBU regained the three-run lead in the bottom of the fifth when Hall sent a ball over the wall in left-center field.  
 
COACH DAN HEEFNER – ON DALTON HIGGINS' ROLE
"Dalton's going really good. Since he moved to the bullpen, he's been really comfortable."
 
COLIN POCHE – ON GETTING OUT OF THE FIFTH INNING
"You just got to take a deep breath and stay locked in to what you're trying to do."
 
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Colin Poche has recorded quality starts in seven of his nine starts this season.
- Dalton Higgins earned his first save since May 5, 2015 against UT-Arlington.
-Poche's 5-0 start matches Joseph Shaw's 5-0 start on the mound in 2015.
 
IN THE NUMBERS
8 – Poche's eight strikeouts set a new career high.
6 – DBU forced six runners left on base for the Salukis.
13 – Hall's 13^th homerun placed him one off the national leader.
 
UP NEXT FOR THE PATRIOTS
DBU and Southern Illinois will play a doubleheader on Saturday with the first game starting at 2 p.m. at Horner Ballpark. Darick Hall (4-2) will take the mound for the Patriots against Chad Whitmer (3-1) for the Salukis.