THE LEAD
An offensive outburst from Missouri State put DBU at an early disadvantage and late offense combined with solid work from the bullpen was not enough for the Patriots, as DBU fell to the Bears, 11-8 on Saturday at Hammons Field in Springfield, Missouri. The loss marked the second straight defeat for the Patriots on the weekend and their third straight overall, the first time this season they have lost three consecutive games.
 
It was a rough start for Patriot pitching as Missouri State (20-10, 5-0) scored five runs in the first inning and single runs in the next three innings to take control of the game early. Kragen Kechely and Trevor Conn finally combined in the fifth inning to keep the Bears off the scoreboard and give the Patriot offense a chance to crawl back in the game.
 
In the sixth inning, DBU did just that. With two outs, walks to Austin Listi and Tim Millard put a runner in scoring position. Matt Duce broke the shutout with a single to center and Camden Duzenack cut the Bear lead in half with a three-run homerun off the foul pole in left, his seventh homerun on the season.
 
In the bottom of the inning, the Bears threatened to add to their lead once again after getting runners on first and second to open the frame. Gavin Fritz came out of the bullpen however, and got the first out on a sacrifice bunt and then struck out back-to-back batters to end the inning with no damage done.
 
The Patriots threatened in the seventh inning by loading the bases with one out, but were unable to cash in on the golden opportunity.  In the eighth, Matt Duce led off with a double, but once again the Patriots were unable to capitalize with a runner in scoring position.
 
Those opportunities would loom large in the final inning, as would a three-run homerun from Missouri State in the eighth inning that pushed their lead to seven runs. The Patriot offense rounded into form in the ninth inning but it was too little, too late. Tim Millard blasted an opposite field homerun with two aboard in the ninth and Duce followed with an opposite field homerun of his own to get the game to the deficit to three before Bears' closer, Bryan Young, closed out the game by striking out Camryn Williams.
 
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Both the Patriots and the Bears each hit three home runs in the game.
- Austin Listi tied Justin Wall today for the fourth most starts in DBU's Division I history.
- The home team in the series between DBU and Missouri State has now won each of the last four series.
 
DBU HEAD COACH DAN HEEFNER ON A VALIANT COMEBACK THAT FELL JUST SHORT
"The job that Trevor Conn and Gavin Fritz did in relief gave us a chance to get back in the game.  I thought they both really competed and had good stuff and their effort spilled over to our offense.  From there, we were able to put together some good at-bats and our approach at the plate was better as we got deeper into the game."
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
7 – Gavin Fritz struck out a career-high seven batters.
30 – Matt Duce has now reached safely in all 30 games this year.
11 – 11 of the Patriots' 12 runs in their three games this week have been scored on home runs.
 
UP NEXT
DBU and Missouri State will meet in the series finale on Sunday at Hammons Field.  First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.