THE LEAD
No. 11 DBU locked up its first series win of 2018 with a 5-3 victory over Monmouth in Game 2 of the weekend series Saturday. Garrett Wolforth's solo home run broke a 2-2 tie in the sixth, and 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief from MacGregor Hines helped set the Patriots (2-0) up to go for the sweep Sunday.

Jordan Martinson got the start for DBU, allowing one unearned run on two hits across five innings with three strikeouts and two walks.  Kody Funderburk drove in DBU's first two runs with a second-inning sacrifice fly and a fifth-inning single.

Martinson left with a 2-1 lead, but Monmouth (0-2) tied the game in the top of the sixth on an RBI single by Clay Koniencki. Wolforth gave DBU the lead back in the bottom of the inning, hammering a 3-2 delivery from Joe Molettiere into the netting in front of the right field scoreboard. 

Hines came on in relief with one out and runners at first and third in the seventh inning, inducing a 5-4-3 double play to preserve the lead. 

The Patriots tacked on two insurance runs in the seventh inning thanks to an error and a balk by Monmouth. Ray Gaither pitched around a leadoff home run to pick up the save. Trevor Conn (1-0) picked up the victory on the mound in relief.  Molettiere (0-1) took the loss, allowing three runs on five hits in six innings, striking out six batters and walking none.
 
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
 - DBU has won its first series of the season each of the past five seasons. A win Sunday would give the Patriots a season-opening sweep four times in five years.
 - Gaither's save was the first of his career.
 - The Patriots are the only remaining undefeated team in the Missouri Valley Conference.

DBU HEAD COACH DAN HEEFNER ON WOLFORTH'S SIXTH-INNING BATTLE WITH MOLETTIERE
"Garrett just keeps getting better and better. It's been fun to watch how much he's matured as a hitter. He's got some serious pop, too. With two strikes there, he's not looking to drive a ball, but he's got that kind of pop. He put a good swing on it."

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
10 – Patriot pitchers struck out 10 Hawk batters.
8 – Only eight DBU batters reached base Saturday.
.117 - Martinson held Monmouth to a .117 batting average.

UP NEXT
DBU goes for the sweep of Monmouth at 12:05 Sunday. Luke Eldred (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will face Dan Klepchik (0-0, 0.00).