THE LEAD
Freshman ace Ray Gaither was outstanding for the DBU Patriots (18-15) on the mound, but his efforts were not enough as the DBU bullpen allowed a seven-run seventh inning to Central Arkansas (29-26) as the Bears came from behind to claim a 10-4 win to open the three-game series. Gaither matched a season-high in strikeouts with seven, allowing only a solo homerun, and walking two. Evan Sandmann recorded two RBIs for the Patriot offense and Matt Duce extended his on-base streak to 33 games with a couple of hits, including a double.
 
Through four innings against Bear starter Tyler Gray, the DBU offense had recorded only one hit, a leadoff single from Matt Duce to open the second inning. The Patriot bats finally showed some life in the fifth inning as Duce recorded his second hit, a leadoff double to right center field. Duce would come around to score on Garrett Wolforth's single and Wolforth himself scored later in the inning to give DBU the lead after a wild pitch and Sandmann's first RBI of the night.
 
DBU added to the lead in the seventh inning after singles from Camden Duzenack and Wolforth set up runs on a failed pickoff at third base and a Sandmann sacrifice fly. Gaither exited after six innings having allowed only the lone run on a leadoff homerun in the second inning by Justin McCarty.
 
Things would fall apart quickly for DBU, however, in the bottom of the inning. Gaither was replaced on the mound by Jimmy Fouse and he quickly found trouble by allowing a leadoff single, a walk, and a two-run triple to cut the lead to one. Travis Stone came on in relief with one out in the seventh inning and gave up two earned runs without recording an out. Landon Wilson and Kragen Kechely both allowed inherited runners to score before Kechely recorded the final out after seven Bear runs had crossed the plate for an 8-4 lead heading to the final two innings.
 
The Patriots threatened in the eighth inning by loading the bases with two outs against the Bear bullpen, but were unable to cash in with any runs. UCA put the game out of reach with two more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning and the Patriots offered no resistance in their final at bat to close out the contest.
 
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- The Patriots have lost six straight games for the first time in the program's Division I era dating back to 2004.
- Ray Gaither notched DBU's first quality start of the year, allowing just one run in six innings.
- The Patriots are now 2-13 when they score less than seven runs.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
200 – Austin Listi started his 200th career game, tying him with Nash Knight for the third most starts in DBU's Division I history.
107 – Ray Gaither has thrown 107 pitches in each of his last two starts.
13 – Matt Duce is now tied with Austin Listi for the most doubles on the team with 13.
 
UP NEXT
DBU faces Central Arkansas in game two of the series on Friday at Bear Stadium.  First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.