THE LEAD
DBU clinched the series victory with a 3-2 triumph over Indiana State on Saturday afternoon at Horner Ballpark. Ray Gaither delivered a pinch-hit RBI single in the eighth to give the Patriots the lead.
 
Jimmy Fouse (2-0) earned the win after striking out four through 3 1/3 innings of scoreless baseball. Ryan Keaffaber (2-4) suffered the loss, giving up the game-winning run in the eighth. Seth Elledge (7) picked up the save with a perfect ninth inning to close out the ballgame.
 
DBU loaded the bases in the opening frame, thanks in part to a pair of hit-by-pitches, but Camden Duzenack lined out to right to end the inning. After the Patriots loaded them again in the second, Evan Sandmann put the first run on the board, scoring on a Tim Millard grounder to give DBU a 1-0 lead. In the top of the fifth, Indiana State took a 2-1 lead off a two-run double from Clay Dungan that forced Jordan Martinson out of the game, in favor of Fouse. Martinson finished his 4 2/3 inning outing with two runs on two hits to go with four walks and four strikeouts.
 
Fouse faced the minimum amount of batters through 3 1/3 innings of relief, striking out four Sycamores. Following a leadoff hit-by-pitch drawn by Duzenack in the eighth, Indiana State finally called on their bullpen for Keaffaber. On Keaffaber's first pitch, Sandmann roped a triple to right field that brought home Duzenack for the tying run. Two batters later, pinch-hitter Gaither hit a go-ahead RBI single to make it 3-2.
 
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
-With the win, DBU extended their win streak to five games, the longest of the season.
-Saturday marks the first win for the Patriots when trailing after six innings (1-13).
-Hannah's four hits are the most for the center fielder this season.

COACH DAN HEEFNER - ON SANDMANN IGNITING THE EIGHTH-INNING COMEBACK
"We've got a saying, 'winners find a way," and that's what that ballgame was right there. Sandmann's been having great at-bats for us ever since he's gotten into the lineup. He had a plan there and he executed his plan, so you've got to tip your cap to him."

EVAN SANDMANN - ON HOW INDIANA STATE SHIFTED AGAINST HIM
"It shouldn't be that much of a factor, but when you see them out there, it's kind of weird. Still, you've just got to get your pitch and do your thing up there. That's what I've been trying to keep my mind on. Not trying to do too much, otherwise I could focus on hooking the ball, but that would get my swing out of whack. Just got to stick to the approach and good things will happen."
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
21 – Seth Elledge picked up his 21^st career save and is four shy of tying Chris Haney for most all-time.
37 – Duzenack's crucial leadoff hit-by-pitch in the eighth was the 37^th of his career, which ranks fourth in DBU's Division I history.
7 - Seven of the 13 meetings between the two schools since DBU joined the Missouri Valley in 2014 have been decided by one run.
 
UP NEXT
DBU and Indiana State face off in the series finale on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. MD Johnson (0-2) takes the mound for the Patriots against Will Kincanon (3-3) for the Sycamores.