THE RUNDOWN
DBU clinched the series with a 5-4 win over San Diego in Sunday's rubber match at Fowler Park in San Diego, California. Trailing 5-0 in the seventh inning, the Toreros (5-5) mounted a furious comeback attempt that fell just short as the game-tying run was left on third base on a fly out induced by Kyle Rich. With the dramatic game-three win, Rich earns his first career save, and the Patriots (6-5) win their first road series of the 2022 campaign. 

In an uncomfortably similar situation to San Diego's 9-8 victory on Friday, DBU entered the home half of the ninth with little breathing room and the Toreros on a late-game tear. With the Patriots up 5-4, Kyle Rich stepped back on the hill and made quick work of the first two Toreros he faced. But the game-tying run reached first on a single into center field, and advanced to third on back-to-back hits to load the bases. Down to the final out, USD's Cody Jefferis flied out to Nathan Humphreys to put the Patriots on the right side of a one-run ballgame. 

Nate Rombach crushed his second home run of the weekend over the wall in left field to give DBU a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Then, in the third, Blayne Jones clobbered a leadoff pitch into the same location to give the Patriots a 2-0 lead on a pair of solo shots.

Jacob Meador started on the hill for DBU and kept San Diego under control through 4.1 innings of work, punching out six Toreros before being relieved in the fifth.  

A massive seventh inning for DBU proved to be the difference-maker as San Diego would close the game with four unanswered runs. With two away in the seventh frame, Andrew Benefield delivered a shot into right field that tightroped the foul line for a two-run double. Then, following a pitching change, Nathan Humphreys got in on the action when he sent an RBI single through a crease in the infield that ballooned the DBU  lead to 5-0. 

Chase Meidroth gave the Toreros their own three-spot when he left the yard for a three-run blast in the bottom of the seventh. Back-to-back base hits in the eighth brought the Toreros back within one as Kyle Rich entered the game and set the table for a dramatic ninth inning. 

THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW 
-DBU wins its second one-run contest of the season. 
-The Patriots improve to 4-2 versus the Toreros. 
- Alec Baker earns his first career win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
19 - DBU and San Diego combined for 19 homers during the weekend series.
3 - Blayne Jones left the yard in all three games. 
7 - After just two runs crossed home plate in the first six innings, seven were scored in the final three.

ON DECK
The Patriots travel to Norman, Oklahoma, for a midweek matchup against the Sooners on Tuesday.