THE RUNDOWN
The Patriots swept Friday's double-header against Valparaiso as Jackson Glenn's eighth inning RBI-single gave DBU a 9-8 win. The Patriots (17-7) are now 3-0 in Missouri Valley Conference play and will go for a four-game sweep tomorrow afternoon.

Following a game one outburst at the plate, DBU struck first again as Austin Bell and Jace Grady would drive in an RBI apiece. That lead would last until the top of the third when Valparaiso got to starter Ray Gaither. Valpo would plate five runs on seven hits in a turbulent inning for the hard throwing righty. 

Still, DBU answered in the bottom half, as Austin Bell once again produced, this time with a 3-run blast over the center field wall. Andrew Benefield would blast his third home run of the season in the top of the sixth, but Valpo kept their offense rolling. They added one in the fourth and two in the sixth off of Chandler Arnold. 

In a seesaw game two, Nico Burgarello and Andrew Benefield had the Patriot response ready and waiting. Burgarello sent a solo shot flying over the Patriot bullpen in the sixth and Benefield sent an RBI-double sliding into the left field corner to knot the ballgame at 8-8. Kragen Kechely would come on in relief in the sixth and throw 3.2 innings of shutdown baseball, stopping the Valpo offense in their tracks. Kechely did not allow a hit and struck out three in his outing.

With Kragen dealing from the mound, the Patriots had the chance to take the lead in the eighth. It would be Jackson Glenn who played hero for DBU this afternoon, as the senior sent an RBI-single sizzling back up the middle to score Chrisitan Boulware, giving DBU a 9-8 win in game two and sweeping the double header. 

THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- The Patriots are now 12-3 all-time against Valpo.
- Kechely's relief appearance energized the dugout down the stretch. The right hander was unhittable in his outing and needed only 37 pitches to get through almost four innings of work.
- The Patriots go for the sweep tomorrow afternoon with a chance to start MVC play with a 4-0 record.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
2 – Andrew Benefield tied the game, not once, but twice in game two.
6 – Austin Bell had six RBI in Friday's double header.
.303 – The Patriots are hitting .303 as a team, led by River Town who owns a .400 batting average in 2021.

HEAD COACH DAN HEEFNER ON THE DOUBLE HEADER:
"I thought they showed some resilience. You're going to have games you have to do that, especially in four game series. We just chipped away, I thought we had some good at bats. TO break through with some home runs was great. I thought that Benefield had some good swings, and to get that hit from Jackson Glenn was great."

UP NEXT
DBU heads to Springfield, Missouri for a series against the Bears of Missouri State from April 9-11.