THE RUNDOWN
No. 2 DBU lost its opening-round game to No. 7 Valparaiso 13-7 on Wednesday. The Crusaders scored nine times in the game's final four innings to take the lead and ensure the Patriots' ninth-inning rally would come up short.

Down 13-7 heading into the bottom of the ninth, DBU (36-18) sparked a comeback attempt as Jimmy Glowenke was hit by a pitch, Matt Duce singled, and Tim Millard drove in Glowenke with a double off the left field wall. Duce scored on Kody Funderburk's groundout, and Garrett Wolforth drove in Millard with a single to right field. Hill Alexander struck out swinging, and Blayne Jones flied out to right to end the game.

After falling behind 4-1 by the middle of the second, the Patriots fought back to tie the game with a three-run rally in the third with an RBI single by Glowenke and a two-run double by Millard. An RBI double by Devlin Granberg and an RBI groundout by Jameson Hannah put the Patriots on top 6-4 in the fourth.

Jarod Bayless pitched two innings of one-hit, one-run relief of starter Trevor Conn, who lasted only 3.1 innings. Bayless struck out the first six batters he faced before giving way to Kragen Kechely with the bases loaded in the sixth.

The Crusaders (19-32) pushed across nine runs on 10 hits in the final four innings against four different Patriot pitchers, putting the game out of reach.

THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- The Patriots will face Illinois State at 12:30 Thursday.
- The winner of Thursday's 12:30 game will play Friday at 12:30 against the loser of Thursday night's game between Valparaiso and Bradley.
- Jarod Bayless' six strikeouts tied a season-high.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
44 – Kody Funderburk has reached base in 44 straight games, the longest such streak by a Patriot this year.
.500 – The top three hitters in the DBU batting order combined to go 7-14 at the plate with four extra-base hits, including Granberg's three doubles and Hannah's first-inning solo home run.
20 – Jimmy Glowenke extended his career-high hit streak to 20 games.
 
UP NEXT
DBU will face Illinois State after the conclusion of Southern Illinois' game against Evansville, which begins at 9:00 a.m. Thursday.