THE LEAD
The No. 24 ranked Patriots rode the hot bat of Jackson Glenn and another complete performance on the mound to a series-clinching victory, topping Austin Peay 11-2. Glenn collected a career-high four hits and five RBI to lift DBU to their second win of 2021.

The Patriots opened the scoring in the third inning to the tune of three runs. River Town drove in the first run of the game on a screaming line drive that was knocked down for a fielder's choice. Glenn then stepped to the plate and delivered the first of four base hits on the day. This one was a fastball that he turned around and put down the left field line for a two-RBI double. Jackson would homer in the seventh to extend the lead to 5-0 DBU.

While Austin Peay answered back with a two-run shot from outfielder Garrett Spain in the eighth, the Patriots responded by pouring it on in the bottom half. Glenn drove in his fifth RBI of the day with a single, and Blayne Jones crushed his third home run of the season, this one a grand slam, to clear the bases and reach the 11-2 tally.

On the mound, DBU had their second straight day of total control. Ray Gaither made his 2021 debut, going four strong innings and striking out six, while only allowing five base runners. Kyle Rich came on in the fifth inning and would breeze through three scoreless innings of relief, earning his first win of the season. Kragen Kechely and Rhett Kouba would pitch the eighth and ninth innings, respectively.

In total, the Patriot pitching staff clocked another impressive outing. They sprinkled six hits over nine innings and struck out 15 Governor hitters. DBU hurlers have struck out a total of 28 batters in just 18 innings.

THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- DBU's win secures their eighth straight opening series victory, a streak that extends back to 2014.
- Kragen Kechely made his 81^st appearance on the mound. He sits in third all-time in program history behind only Chris Haney (90, 2008-2011) and Michael Smith (99, 2009-2013).
- The Patriots are looking for their fourth straight series sweep to begin a season.  
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
4 – Out of the seven hits that DBU accumulated today, Jackson Glenn had four of them.
8 – After launching his third HR of the season, Blayne Jones has knocked in 8 RBI through two games.
24 – DBU has scored 24 runs in their first two ballgames.

HEAD COACH DAN HEEFNER ON THE WIN:
"I thought the guys had some good at bats and plate disciple today. I thought we needed to be more aggressive at times, but you take every positive you can have at this point in the season and I thought we did a great job today.

Kyle [Rich] is a great guy, a patriot through and through. He's one of those guys who we have had over and over again in our program. Each day they get better. The stuff is really playing up right now and he's got his confidence going. It's really fun to play behind him."

UP NEXT
DBU goes for the sweep over Austin Peay in the finale of the three-game set. First pitch is scheduled for noon on Monday, February 22^nd.