THE RUNDOWN
After trailing by as many as five runs, a multi-run ninth inning fell a tally shy of forcing extra innings, as DBU (13-7, 2-1) fell to FIU (12-9, 1-2), 7-6. The Patriots left the bases loaded to end the contest.
 
The Panthers pounced quickly. The third batter of the game, Dante Girardi, hit a two-run homer to left field to start the scorinFIU tacked on an additional two runs in the first via a Henry Wallen single and a bases-loaded walk by Steven Ondina to take a 4-0 lead.
 
Grant Jay led off the bottom of the first with a double and came around to score on a Nathan Humphreys single, but a double play and a ground out prevented further scoring for DBU.
 
Unsatisfied with a 4-1 advantage, the Panthers stretched the difference to five with a two-run third inning off an RBI triple from Wallen and a run-scoring groundout by Ondina.
 
Alec Baker came on in relief of Bryson Hammer with two outs in the third. He and the rest of the DBU bullpen surrendered only one run on one hit for the remainder of the game.
 
A pair of runs in the home halves of the fifth and sixth and a scoreless top of the ninth set the stage for a potential Patriot comeback in the home half of the ninth.
 
With the Patriots down, 7-3, Humphreys walked, and Nate Rombach singled to start the bottom of the ninth. Miguel Santos drove in both runners on a double to left center field, narrowing the margin to only two. An error and another walk gave the Patriots a man on each station with a Patriot yet to be retired. Luke Heefner made it a one-run game, 7-6, with a sacrifice fly to score Santos from third, and following a flyout by Jace Grady, Tom Poole walked to load the bases. With two outs and the tying run on third, Grant Jay worked a 2-2 count and swung through strike three to end the game.
 
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- DBU opens Conference USA play with a 2-1 record.
- Freshman Grant Jay has reached base in nine straight games.
- Patriot batters struck out less than five times for the sixth time in 2023.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
5 - DBU's five extra-base hits are the most in a loss this season.
10 - The Patriots walked a season-high 10 batters. It was the first time this year that DBU pitching recorded more walks than strikeouts.
300 - Sunday marked the 300th game in the history of Joan and Andy Horner Ballpark, going back to the 2013 season-opener against Creighton on February 15, 2013.
 
UP NEXT
DBU will play eight of its next nine games on the road. The Patriots will begin the stretch in Norman, Oklahoma, to play against the Oklahoma Sooners. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 pm on Tuesday.
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