THE RUNDOWN
Impeding weather and lightning forced a 2-2 tie between DBU and Indiana State Saturday afternoon at Bob Warn Field. The decision stamps the Patriots (33-20-1, 11-9-1) as the No. 3 seed in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament and pits the Sycamores (25-20-1, 10-10-1) against Valparaiso in Tuesday's play-in game. 

The Pats held a 3-2 lead when play was halted in the bottom of the 10th inning. George Specht had crushed a solo blast to right-center field that shattered a five-inning deadlock in the top of the frame. But with one out and runners on first and second base, lightning stopped the Sycamores' short, and the final score reverted back to the last complete inning. 

DBU weathered an early storm from Indiana State in the first frame. Back-to-back base hits boarded runners on first and second base before Randall Diaz dealt the first blow with an RBI double to left field. Then a fourth straight hit drove in another run to give Indiana State a swift, 2-0 lead. 

Patriot starter Luke Eldred struck out the next batter he faced and hit the one after that as Ryan Johnson entered with loaded bases. The freshman limited the damage with a double play that got the Pats out of the inning.

In the third, Johnson escaped a bases-loaded jam of his own creation and the DBU offense got to work in the fourth frame. Cole Moore put the Pats on the scoreboard with a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Jace Grady. Ryan Wrobleski then manufactured the tying run as he reached on a base hit, stole second, and advanced to third on a passed ball before coming home on a Luke Heefner sacrifice fly.

After four silent innings from both sides, Zane Russell took over pitching duties for Ryan Johnson, who went toe-to-toe with Sycamore starter Luke Patzner for most of the day. Russell struck out two batters in the eighth and another in the ninth to preserve the tie under the darkened skies at Bob Warn Field. 

THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW 
-DBU ends the regular season with a road record of 12-11-1. 
-The Pats open the MVC Tournament versus Bradley on Wednesday. 
-DBU finishes the year undefeated (13-0-1) in series finales. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 
43 - Cole Moore ties Blayne Jones for a team-high 43 RBI. 
7.1 - The Sycamores got a quality start out of Luke Patzner, who surrendered just two runs in 7.1 innings pitched.
17 - Ryan Wrobleski ends the regular season on a career-high 17-game hit streak. 

ON DECK 
DBU faces Bradley on Wednesday, May 25, in the MVC Tournament.  Read Full Article