THE LEAD
Top-seeded Texas Tech looked poised to break the game open in the second, but Jordan Martinson and DBU buckled down to limit the Red Raiders (41-17) to three runs, but came up short in a 3-2 loss in the winner's bracket of the NCAA Lubbock Regional on Saturday at Dan Law Field. The Patriots (42-19) scored twice in the fifth and threatened to tie the game, but the Red Raider bullpen held fast.

A two-run home run by Cameron Warren and two subsequent walks gave Texas Tech a two-run lead and runners at first and second before Martinson recorded an out in the second inning. After his eight-pitch first inning, the Patriot senior needed 38 pitches to get out of the second inning, but not before a third run crossed the plate. Martinson recovered to hold Texas Tech to three more hits and no more runs over the next 3.1 innings to keep DBU in the game.

The Patriots mounted their comeback attempt in the fifth inning. A leadoff double by Herbert Iser, a single by Andres Sosa, and a sac fly by Augie Isaacson put DBU on the board four pitches into the inning. Two batters later, Jimmy Glowenke drove in Sosa with a single to left.

DBU's best chance to tie the game came in the sixth inning. Luke Bandy was hit by a pitch, advanced to second on a groundout, and stole third. With a 3-2 count, Sosa was hit by a pitch, but called out when the home plate umpire deemed he leaned into the pitch. With two out, Augie Isaacson hit a slow grounder up the first base line that could conceivably have scored Bandy.

Jarod Bayless took over for Martinson and struck out the first four batters he faced. He pitched the final 2.2 innings of the game, allowing no runs or hits and walking just two batters. The Patriots were held hitless over the final three innings and unable to score the tying run.

THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
 - The Patriots will face No. 3 seed Florida on Sunday in a rematch of the opening round in an elimination game with a trip to the Regional final on the line.
 - No Red Raider batter had more than one hit.
 - Martinson moved into third place all-time in DBU history in strikeouts in a season, bringing his total to 115.

COACH DAN HEEFNER ON HOW MARTINSON REGROUPED
"I didn't think he had his best stuff early in the game, but he did what great competitors do. He made an adjustment. To get into the sixth inning, I thought that was really big."

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
23 - Bandy's steal was his 23rd of the year, third-most in a single season in DBU's Division I era.
276 - Martinson passed MD Johnson for first place in DBU's Division I era in strikeouts, finishing the game with 276.
9 - Texas Tech's Nos. 1 and 2 hitters were 0-9 on the evening.

UP NEXT
DBU will take on Florida at 2:00 pm at Dan Law Field.