THE LEAD
In one of the most dramatic comeback wins in the history of DBU baseball, the Patriots overcame a 6-0 deficit through the first  six innings before a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth by sophomore Matt Duce lifted No. 27 DBU to a 10-8 win over Southern Illinois at the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament in Terre Haute, Indiana.  The home run was one of three on the night for Duce, who entered the game without a home run in his young career.  With the win, the Patriots remain in the winners' bracket and are one win away from reaching Saturday's championship game.
 
The Redbirds scored runs in both the first and second innings off Hall, mostly aided by balls that either did not leave the infield or were softly placed into the outfield.  Southern Illinois plated a lone run in the first thanks to three singles and two more in the second as they picked up four hits with two outs - a soft single to right and three infield safeties.
 
After a scoreless third, the Salukis scored multiple runs again in the fourth, as they plated three runs on three hits to extend their lead to six.  The Patriots did not get on the scoreboard until the bottom of the fifth inning when Duce hit his first career homerun, a solo shot over the rightfield wall off of Salukis' starter Michael Baird.  The home run was just the third round-tripper Baird had allowed in 99.0 innings on the mound this year.  Duce's home run cut the deficit to five, but SIU quickly returned to a six-run cushion in the top of the sixth with two hits and an RBI groundout.
 
Hall, who moved to designated hitter after being lifted from the mound in favor of Landon Wilson in the sixth inning, returned the Patriot deficit to five in the bottom of that inning by lofting a solo homerun to right field – his 18^th of the season.
 
The Patriots finally got into the Saluki bullpen to start the bottom of the eighth inning, as Baird was replaced after throwing 118 pitches and allowing only the two solo homeruns.  Two walks to open the frame by reliever Austin McPheron led to another pitching change for the Salukis and the Patriots capitalized on the gifts.  With Listi and Hall aboard, Jameson Hannah walked against SIU closer Ryan Netemeyer to load the bases.  After a strikeout for the first out of the inning, Duce once again closed the Saluki gap, as the Patriot backstop deposited a Netemeyer offering over the right field fence for a no-doubt grandslam to pull his team within one.
 
After Camden Duzenack was hit by a pitch, the fourth free base of the inning for the Patriots, pinch-hitter Justin Wall came to the plate and hit a majestic flyball to leftfield that just snuck over the glove of outfielder Greg Lambert and over the fence to give DBU the lead .  
 
That lead lasted one batter into the ninth inning as Seth Elledge came out of the Patriot bullpen looking to close things out for DBU. Hunter Anderson greeted the righthander with a homerun to left center to tie the game and Ryan Smith followed with a double.  From there, the Patriot closer settled down and stranded the go-ahead run at third to give the Patriots last bats in the ninth in a tie game.
 
In the bottom of the ninth facing lefty Seth Hackett, Hannah laid down a perfectly executed bunt to the first base side.  Following a stolen base by Hannah, Duce faced a 3-2 count with one out and blasted a shot over the wall in right to give the Patriots the walk-off win, as the Patriots' sophomore catcher was mobbed at home plate by his teammates.
 
DBU HEAD COACH DAN HEEFNER ON THE DRAMATIC WIN
"That was one of the greatest comeback wins we've had.  Our guys kept battling and never gave up.  Matt Duce played a huge role and had some great swings and Justin Wall's home run was huge as well.  Their starter, Michael Baird, is really good and you have to tip your cap to him and I thought their lineup had a great approach as well.  I'm just really proud of our guys and the character they continue to show."
 
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Duce's walk-off home run is the second walk-off blast by a Patriot in the history of the MVC Tournament.  The last one came on May 20, 2014, when Drew Turbin hit a walk-off home run against Missouri State.
- DBU won for the ninth time this year after trailing through four ininings.
- The Patriots are one win away from their third consecutive 40-win season.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
3 – Matt Duce hit the first three home runs of his career in the Patriots' 10-8 win over Southern Illinois.
7 – Duce drove in a career-high seven RBI's in the win.
18 – Justin Wall hit his 18th career home run.
 
UP NEXT
DBU will await the winner of the elimination game between Evansville and Southern Illinois.  First pitch is scheduled for 3:04 CST.