THE RUNDOWN
No. 23 DBU fell 6-0 to Indiana State in the series opener at Bob Warn Field in Terre Haute, Indiana, as the Sycamores' Tyler Ward stifled the Patriots' lineup, tossing a complete game shutout.  The Patriots' bullpen gave DBU (23-12, 5-2) a valiant effort, but their offense was never able to capitalize on opportunities to overcome early runs for Indiana State (19-14, 4-6).
 
The Sycamores scored four runs in the first four innings against DBU starter MD Johnson before the Patriots turned the game over to freshman lefty Peyton Sherlin.  Offensively, DBU stranded seven runners on base, getting runners on in every inning except the third and the seventh against Ward, who threw all nine innings for Indiana State to pick up his sixth win of the season.
 
Johnson (4-2) was saddled with the loss after pitching himself in and out of trouble in the first inning when Indiana State loaded the bases with nobody out. The right-hander induced a double play groundout to short and then a flyball to centerfield to limit the damage to one, but the Sycamores plated another run in the third and two in the fourth to end Johnson's day with two out in his final frame.
 
Sherlin came on in relief to record the final out of the fourth inning to strand two runners and stayed on through the end of the seventh, allowing two runs on two hits in that frame.
 
Jimmy Fouse came on for Sherlin to open the eighth inning and hit the first two batters he faced, but escaped the frame unscathed thanks in part to a groundball doubleplay to second base.
 
The Patriot offense tallied only six hits against the Indiana State starter and struck out eight times, losing the first game of an MVC series for the first time this season.
 
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- DBU was shutout for the second time in one season for the first time since they were shutout twice in 2016.
- Indiana State's Tyler Ward became the first pitcher since Washington's Jacob Clem in 2011 to throw a complete game shutout against the Patriots.
- DBU has lost back-to-back games for the first time since they fell to Brown on March 18 and Baylor on March 20.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
35 - Jameson Hannah's nation-best 35-game hit streak came to an end tonight.
0 - The Patriots were 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.
9 - DBU's nine-game win streak over Indiana State came to an end with tonight's loss.
 
UP NEXT
DBU faces Indiana State on Saturday in game two of the series.  First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.