THE LEAD
DBU completed the series sweep of Illinois State with a 10-2 win over the Redbirds on Saturday afternoon at Horner Ballpark. Matt Duce went 3-for-5 with four RBI and two runs scored to lead the Patriots offense.
 
Dalton Higgins (4-0) earned the win after pitching 1 1/3 innings of effective scoreless relief, striking out three and allowing just one hit. Jeffrey Barton (0-2) suffered the loss after allowing back-to-back go-ahead RBI doubles to Jameson Hannah and Tim Millard in the seventh inning.
 
For the first time in the series, ISU struck first, scoring on an RBI single off the bat of Collin Braithwaite. Redbirds starter Brent Headrick carried a no-hitter into the third inning, before Jameson Hannah hit a two-out base hit to right field. After giving up a pair of two-out singles, DBU starter Jordan Martinson was relieved by Travis Stone, who forced a fly out to end the inning. Martinson finished the day with three strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings, allowing one run on six hits.
 
In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Patriots flipped the game in their favor with a Logan Sepanek solo blast to go up 2-1. With two runners on base, coach Dan Heefner chose to call on his bullpen again for Gavin Fritz, who intentionally walked the bases loaded with two outs. Heefner went to the pen again to bring in Higgins, who allowed a game-tying single to Joe Aeilts but struck out Braithwaite to escape the jam.
 
DBU threatened in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases on a pair of singles and a walk with no outs. Barton set down the next three batters to hold the Patriots scoreless. Higgins responded by setting the Redbirds down in order with a pair of strikeouts. DBU rallied for six runs in the bottom of the seventh behind a pair of RBI doubles and a two-run Duce single.
 
Duce picked up his fourth RBI in the eighth, grounding out to allow Jameson Hannah to touch home plate. After reliever David Meade walked Garrett Wolforth, he pegged two straight batters, the second of which brought home Tim Millard for a 10-2 advantage.
 
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
 - DBU hit 6-for-13 with runners in scoring position in the win.
 - The Patriots had to comeback in all three games in the weekend series.
 - DBU scored 15 runs in the seventh inning or later this weekend.
 
COACH DAN HEEFNER – ON SCORING LATE IN GAMES
"It just gives you confidence that at the end of the game, if we're down or it's close, we know we can come back. That's something we pride ourselves on is being the best at the end. They've showed that a number of times this year, but at the same time we would like to be a little better early in games so we're not in this situation all three games of a series."

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
9 – DBU has won nine straight games against Illinois State.
15 – Travis Stone has made a team-high 15 appearances this season.
32 – The Patriots pitching staff forced the Redbirds to strand 32 baserunners across the weekend.
 
UP NEXT
DBU faces Texas A&M on Tuesday, April 4, at Blue Bell Park in College Station, Texas. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.