THE RUNDOWN
DBU (13-6, 2-0) claimed its first Conference USA series with a 12-2 win over FIU (11-9, 0-2) on Saturday afternoon at Horner Ballpark. The Patriots scored four runs in three different innings and held the Panthers scoreless after the first inning en route to a 10-run victory.
 
Looking to avenge a walk-off loss from Friday night, FIU struck first in the opening frame with a two-run blast off the bat of Alec Sanchez.
 
In the bottom of the second, FIU's Christian Santana hit the first Patriot batter and walked the next to put runners on first and second. With Luke Heefner at the plate, both Miguel Santos and Noah Boughton successfully stole their next bags, and a throwing error by the catcher, Ronny Medina, allowed the runners to advance an extra base, scoring Santos for DBU's first run.
 
Slowly but surely, the Patriots used another two walks, a sacrifice fly by George Specht, and a two-run single by Grant Jay to tie the game at four.
 
Two innings later, Heefner led off the inning with a double to set up what would be another four-run frame for DBU.
 
Using a similar methodology as the second inning, a Grant Jay sacrifice fly put the Patriots ahead, 5-4, and a Nathan Humphreys single and a Miguel Santos double stretched the advantage to four.
 
After a rocky first inning, Ryan Johnson stayed strong for the Patriots. The Red Oak, Texas, native gave up only three hits to FIU in a game where he recorded a career-high nine strikeouts without walking a batter in 6.0 innings of work.
 
DBU kept the hits coming in the seventh as the Patriots started the inning with five consecutive hits. RBI singles by Kodie Kolden and Grant Jay along with a two-run base knock from Humphreys extended the Patriot lead to 12-2.
 
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Saturday's win means the Patriots have won all four home series in 2023.
- In five starts this year, sophomore Ryan Johnson has yet to allow more than three earned runs.
- DBU has surrendered only two runs over the last 15 innings.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
2 - Noah Boughton, Luke Heefner, Nathan Humphreys, Grant Jay, and Miguel Santos each recorded at least two hits on Saturday.
4 - Four hits are the fewest given up by DBU pitching since the season opener against Fordham (3).
12 - DBU's 12 runs are the most the Patriots have scored in a game without the aid of a home run this season.
 
DAN HEEFNER ON THE CONSISTENCY OF THE OFFENSIVE ATTACK
"I thought we had some really quality team at-bats. I think we're starting to see some guys get comfortable up there. Miguel Santos looks like he's being himself now, and Nate Humphreys just keeps getting better and better. It was definitely a "pass the baton" type of day. It's a big deal in a conference series that you just keep going. The more pitchers you can make the opponent use, the better."
 
UP NEXT
The series finale against Fordham wraps up on Sunday afternoon with first pitch schedule for 1:00 pm at Horner Ballpark.
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