THE LEAD
The DBU Baseball team mounted a late rally Saturday in the second of a three-game series at Horner Ballpark, but came up short in a 9-7 loss. After giving up five runs in the seventh, the Patriots (4-2) plated six runs in the game's final three innings but could not get the tying run on base.

Minnesota (2-4) took the lead with two runs in the third inning and led 8-1 heading into the seventh inning stretch. After the DBU offense was stifled for much of the first six innings by reigning Big Ten Pitcher of the Year Patrick Fredrickson, Christian Boulware's third home run of the inning glanced off the video board in right field to spark a comeback attempt. Boulware and Herbert Iser combined for three RBIs in the eighth, and a two-run single by Blayne Jones cut the Gopher lead to 9-7 in the bottom of the ninth.

Luke Eldred made the start on the mound for DBU, throwing 3.1 innings with two runs allowed on four hits. A combination of six relievers finished the game for the Patriots.

THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
 - DBU suffered its first home loss of the season.
 - The Patriots allowed as many runs on Saturday (9) as they had in their first five games combined.
 - Boulware recorded his third multi-hit game of the year.

COACH DAN HEEFNER ON HIS TEAM'S LATE PUSH
"I thought it was a great job of them not giving up and continuing to fight there... I would've liked to see that fight earlier in the game. That would've been big for us too."

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
35 - Jimmy Glowenke extended his reached-base streak to 35 games with his first-inning infield single.
9 - The Patriots drew nine walks compared to seven strikeouts and have a 12-14 strikeout-to-walk ratio in the series.
.400 - DBU was 6-for-15 (.400) with a home run, a double, and three walks over the final three innings Saturday.

UP NEXT
The Patriots and Gophers conclude their series at 1:00 pm Sunday at Horner Ballpark. MD Johnson (1-0, 1.80 ERA) will face Sam Thoresen (0-1, 18.90 ERA).