THE RUNDOWN
DBU (9-6) blasted past Southern Miss for a 10-4 win Sunday afternoon at Horner Ballpark. The Patriot bats broke through for a season-high 19 hits to hand the Golden Eagles their first three-game sweep since 2016. All nine Patriots recorded a hit, and Blayne Jones led the way with a career-high five hits and three runs scored.
After being held to just one run in Saturday's doubleheader, Southern Miss (10-6) jumped out to an early lead with a two-run single in the top of the first. In the bottom of the frame, Jace Grady took advantage of a wild pitch and a throwing error to reach home and put DBU on the board. RBI singles from Cole Moore and Luke Heefner would then give DBU a 3-2 lead it would never surrender.
Jaxon Holder set the stage for further damage in the second inning. The freshman notched his third hit of the weekend when he drilled a 3-2 pitch into right field before advancing to second. Grady joined Holder on the basepaths when he drew his second walk of the day and fourth of the series. The hit parade continued with a Blayne Jones single that looped into center field to score Holder and a Cole Moore chopper that brought home Grady to give the Pats a 5-2 lead.
A solo shot from George Specht bounced off the left-field berm and a Nate Rombach RBI single gave DBU a 7-2 advantage in the fifth inning. But the Golden Eagles would mount a small rally in the next frame that created a pivotal moment in the ballgame. A leadoff home run and an RBI double cut DBU's lead to three runs with nobody out. The Patriots then went to the bullpen, calling on Zane Russell. The right-hander retired the first three batters he faced to shut the door on Southern Miss and leave a man on third.
DBU would get the runs back in the bottom of the frame. Blayne Jones lofted a two-run shot over the wall in left field to score himself and Jace Grady. It was Jones' fourth hit of the day and fourth home run of the season.
Leading 9-4 in the eighth inning, Nathan Humphreys became the final Patriot to get in on the action when he lined an RBI single to center field to make it a 10-4 contest.
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
-DBU's 10 runs are the most allowed by Southern Miss this season.
-The Patriots' 19 hits are the most since DBU had 19 hits on May 2, 2021, against Evansville.
-The top of the order in Jace Grady, Cole Moore, and Blayne Jones went 10-12 at the plate.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
5 - In his 199th career game, Blayne Jones recorded a career-high five hits.
.545 - DBU batted .545 with runners in scoring position.
3 - The Patriots improve to three games over .500 and are winners in three-straight weekend series.
HEAD COACH DAN HEEFNER ON THE WIN
"For things to go well, our veteran guys need to step up and do what they are capable of doing. Obviously, we don't expect them to do this every day, but seeing them be themselves and have great at-bats was good. I thought Jace Grady had an outstanding weekend. Every single at-bat was a quality at-bat that helped our team all weekend."
ON DECK
The Patriots head back on the road for a week-long trip to Oklahoma, starting with a midweek game against the No. 6 ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys on Tuesday, March 16.
