THE RUNDOWN
With its back to the wall, No. 2 DBU came out swinging in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament to force a second game Saturday with a 14-7 win over No. 3 Bradley. Hill Alexander came off the bench to hit two of the Patriots' six home runs in the comeback victory.

Playing as the visiting team at Horner Ballpark per MVC Tournament rules, DBU (39-18) struck first as Jameson Hannah opened the scoring with a solo home run in the top of the first inning.

Bradley (32-18) took a 3-1 lead with solo homers in the first, third, and fourth innings. Alexander, who entered the game in the bottom of the first after Luke Bandy went down with an apparent injury, tied the game in the fifth inning with a two-run inside-the-park home run.

The Braves regained the lead with a softly-hit RBI single to left field in the bottom of the fifth, but DBU put the game out of reach with an eight-run sixth inning. Jimmy Glowenke started the festivities by scoring on a fielder's choice. Kody Funderburk opened up the floodgates with a three-run homer to left center. Alexander followed with a 471-foot bomb that chased Bradley starter Boby Johnson. Later in the inning, Jimmy Glowenke drove in a run with a single, and Garrett Wolforth doubled down the left field line to drive in two more DBU runs.

Kragen Kechely (7-1) earned the win on the mound with 3.2 innings of scoreless relief of starter Trevor Conn. Kechely scattered five hits and two walks while striking out two.

Tim Millard and Blayne Jones each homered in the ninth as DBU put the finishing touches on the win. Bradley's three-run rally in the bottom of the ninth came to a quick end when Jimmy Fouse came on in relief to induce a double play and finish the game with a strikeout.

THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- The Patriots will face Bradley at 4:10 p.m. Saturday. The winner will face Missouri State for the MVC Tournament title Sunday.
- Alexander entered the game with one home run on the season.
- Every Patriot who came to the plate collected at least one hit.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
471 – Alexander's second home run was the longest at Horner Ballpark since the Patriots began using Trackman to monitor batted balls in 2015.
45 – DBU has now scored 45 runs in four games against Bradley this year.
23 – Jimmy Glowenke extended his career-high hit streak to 23 games. 
 
UP NEXT
DBU and Bradley will play a rematch at 4:10 p.m. The winner will face Missouri State for the tournament title Sunday.