THE RUNDOWN
The Patriots took the final game from the Redbirds,14-5, Sunday in Normal, Illinois. Clinging to a 6-5 lead after six innings, seven runs in the seventh frame helped DBU blow the doors off the ballgame and salvage the series. Veterans Cole Moore and Ryan Wrobleski led the charge with three hits and three RBI as six different Patriots swung for a multi-hit day. 

With the victory, DBU improves to 11-0 on Sundays and levels out to 6-6 in conference play (26-17 overall). Zach Heaton, who inherited a bases-loaded jam in the fourth inning, earned the win after tossing 3.2 innings of scoreless baseball. 

A DBU offense that's struggled to strike first was able to buck that trend in the first inning. Miguel Santos and Jace Grady started the game with back-to-back base hits. Santos would come home on an RBI double from Cole Moore that was drilled into right-center field, and Grady scored on a sacrifice fly by Andrew Benefield. 

But the Redbirds erased the 2-0 lead in frustrating fashion in the bottom of the inning. Luke Eldred retired the first two batters of the game and tossed a strikeout to Jake McCaw that should have ended the frame. But McCaw survived on a wild pitch, and Illinois State (17-22, 5-7) took advantage of the gift with a two-run double.  

DBU tried to pull away again in the second inning. Nate Rombach crushed a 1-0 offering out of left field to put the Patriots back in front, 3-2. But the lead didn't last long as the Redbirds answered with more two-out offense, scoring a run of their own in the third frame. 

After Nathan Humphreys drew a walk in the fourth inning and Jace Grady singled to center field, Ryan Wrobleski left the yard on a three-run shot that put DBU on top, 6-3. However, sloppy defense would spot Illinois State a pair of unearned runs that trimmed the lead to 6-5. After back-to-back fielding errors advanced a runner to third base, Nick Gile made the Patriots pay with a base hit into left field. Luke Cheng then delivered an RBI groundout that pulled the Redbirds back within striking distance. 

DBU snapped the Illinois State broomsticks in the seventh inning. Seven runs scored on seven hits that completely squashed the Redbirds' hope of a series sweep. Andrew Benefield began the avalanche with a single into right-center field. He would score off the bat of Blayne Jones, who crushed the first pitch of his at-bat out of left field. 

Three pitches later, Luke Heefner homered to opposite field and the Patriots were off to the races. Jace Grady drove in a run with a single to left field and Cole Moore followed it up with a two-run double. Finally, a wild pitch scored Moore from third base before the dust settled in a game-changing inning. 

Leading 13-5 in the ninth inning, Andrew Benefield ended the action with a sacrifice fly to right field that earned Jace Grady his team-high fourth run of the game. 

THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW 
-DBU's 18 hits are the most since their game three win over Missouri State on April 10. 
-The Patriots spoil the Redbirds' first series sweep since 2019. 
-DBU improves to 9-9 on the road. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 
4 - Four Patriots left the yard on Sunday. 
33 - Blayne Jones hit his 33rd career home run, placing him seventh all-time in DBU's Division I era.
21 - Jace Grady stole his league-leading 21st base of the season. He now needs seven stolen bases to pass Augie Isaacson (2019) for the most steals in a single-season in DBU's D1 era.

ON DECK 
DBU comes home for a Tuesday tilt versus Oklahoma on May 3. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. 
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