Dallas Baptist University Athletics

THE RUNDOWN
Indiana State held on to defeat DBU by a score of 11-10 Friday night at Bob Warn Field. The Patriot offense thundered for six home runs and scored in each of the first six innings but could not put away the Sycamores, who rallied from two four-run deficits to clinch the series. Saturday's regular-season finale now has meaning for both sides as the winner avoids the play-in game in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. 

Miguel Santos homered three times in his best performance as a Patriot, and Jace Grady kept pace behind him with two home runs and a team-high four hits. But the explosive showing from the offense was waisted as Cole Moore was left stranded at second base as a strikeout ended the ballgame. 

Santos opened the day with a leadoff homer to left field. Leading 1-0 in the second, DBU (33-20, 11-9) quickly doubled the score as George Specht came home on a wild pitch. Then, following a walk from Santos, Jace Grady got in on the action with a towering two-run blast over the wall in center field that gave the Pats a 4-0 lead. 

But for the second day in a row, the Sycamores (25-20, 10-10) answered in their own second inning. Seth Gergely pushed a run across on an RBI triple hit to left center before a base hit up the middle cut the DBU lead in half, 4-2. A two-run double into left field tied the game at 4-4 as both squads started over in the third inning. 

The Pats jumped right back in front on a solo shot by Nate Rombach in the third frame. It should have been the first of two runs scored in the inning, but Ryan Wrobleski would be called out on a controversial batter's interference call that erased a run from Nate Humphreys. 

DBU then took command for the second time. Chandler Arnold temporarily found his footing after the second inning and went on to strike out the side in the third and fourth frames as back-to-back solo shots from Santos and Grady staked the Pats to a 8-4 lead after 4.5 innings.

The Sycamores would drive in five runs in the bottom of the fifth to overtake the visiting team once again. A leadoff single and a walk spelled danger for Arnold before a three-run homer to left field forced DBU into the bullpen. Indiana State continued to capitalize with loaded bases, pushing in two more runs on their last out of the inning. 

Trailing 9-8 in the top of the sixth, Miguel Santos played hero once again. The sophomore homered to center field and made his trip around the basepaths with Nate Humphreys to give DBU its third lead of the night. 

Holding a 10-9 edge after stretch time, the Sycamore dug deep and belted a two-run blast over the wall in right field. Not to be discouraged, the Pats continued to battle back, fighting until their final out as Cole Moore doubled down the right-field line to give DBU one last shot in the final inning. 

THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW 
- The Patriots drop back-to-back games in Terre Haute for the first time since 2012. 
-  The winner of tomorrow's series finale avoids the play-in game in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament.
- DBU is undefeated (13-0) in series finales this year. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 
81 - The Patriots stole their 81st base of the year. They are five away from passing the 2021 team for the third-most in school history. 
16 - Ryan Wrobleski extended his hitting streak to 16 games. 
6 -  DBU tied its season-high with six home runs. 
101 - Chandler Arnold tossed a career-high 101 pitches. 

ON DECK 
DBU and Indiana State conclude the regular season tomorrow at Bob Warn Field. The first pitch is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. ET.