THE LEAD
No. 17 DBU put up its second-highest run total of the season in a series-opening 11-3 win over Air Force on Friday. Devlin Granberg collected four RBI to lead the offensive attack and made two stellar defensive plays along the right field line, as MD Johnson held the Falcons (1-7) to three runs on six hits through six and two-thirds innings with a career-high nine strikeouts and one walk.

The Patriots (5-3) took advantage of three Air Force errors in the second inning to jump out to a 5-0 lead. Blayne Jones started the scoring with an RBI double that was followed by errors on three straight plays by the Falcons. Tim Millard capped the inning with an RBI double of his own. 

Air Force got two runs back in the third on a two-run home run by Drew Wiss. Granberg tacked on a run in the fourth with an RBI double that scored Jameson Hannah. After the Falcons cut the lead to 6-3 in the top of the seventh, Kody Funderburk drove in Matt Duce with a single in the bottom of the seventh to pad the Patriot lead.

DBU added four more runs in the eighth inning. After Hannah drove in a run with a 330-foot bases-oaded single off the left field fence, Granberg cleared the bases with his second double of the game.

Jarod Bayless and Bradley Gonzalez provided two and one-third innings of perfect relief of Johnson (2-1). Gonzalez received help from a dazzling diving grab by Jones to close out the victory. 

THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
 - The Patriots improved to 5-0 at Horner Ballpark in 2018. 
 - Air Force had made four errors all season before its three-error second inning.
 - Matt Duce has reached base safely in all eight games this season and dating back to last season has reached in 62 of his last 66 games.

COACH DAN HEEFNER ON HIS TEAM'S PLATE DISCIPLINE
"I was pleased with how we worked their starter and got his pitch count up. Those are things that are going to keep helping us through the season as we improve our plate discipline and have team at-bats. Those are things you learn as you play games and I thought this was a game where we got better today."

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
8 – Hannah has hit safely in all eight games this year.
4 – DBU stole four bases Friday after stealing five in its first seven games.
10 – AFA has allowed 10 or more runs in four of its last five games.

UP NEXT
DBU and Air Force play game two Saturday at Horner Ballpark.  First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.