THE LEAD
DBU and Bradley engaged in a pitchers' duel Friday at Horner Ballpark, where the Braves emerged victorious by a score of 2-1. Jordan Martinson carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning but allowed two runs in the seventh, which was more than the Patriot bats could overcome.

Martinson struck out nine batters while walking just one and allowed two runs on four hits through 6.2 innings. Bradley (24-10, 4-3 Missouri Valley Conference) used a solo home run and a run-scoring triple to push across their two runs in the seventh.

The Patriots (25-12, 4-3 MVC) could not solve Bradley ace Mitch Janssen, who entered the weekend with the nation's seventh-lowest ERA. The closest DBU came to breaking through against Janssen was a fourth-inning rally in which the Patriots collected two hits in their first three at-bats before stranding the game's potential first run at third base.

DBU stranded runners at third in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings but did not score until the ninth, when Evan Sandmann's RBI fielder's choice cut the Braves' lead to one. Luke Bandy stole second to put the tying run in scoring position with two outs, but was stranded when Herbert Iser struck out to end the game.

THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
 - The loss was DBU's second of the year when allowing two runs or fewer. The Patriots fell to 11-2 in such games.
 - The Patriots failed to collect an extra-base hit for the third time in 2019.
 - Martinson's nine strikeouts set a season high.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
6.2 - Jarod Bayless extended his scoreless innings streak to 6.2
71 - Martinson threw 99 pitches, 71 for strikes.
4 - Martinson picked off his fourth runner of the season.

UP NEXT
DBU and Bradley conclude the weekend series with a doubleheader Saturday at Horner Ballpark. First pitch in Game One is scheduled for 2:00 pm.