THE RUNDOWN
DBU (15-7, 3-1) took the series opener of their first Conference USA road series, 6-2, over the Charlotte 49ers (9-12, 2-2) on Friday night at Hayes Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. Ryan Johnson paved the way for DBU, throwing 7.0 innings and punching out a career-high 12 batters.
 
Charlotte registered the game's first runs in a hurry. In the opening frame, leadoff hitter Blake Jackson singled to start the offensive attack for the 49ers, and Cam Fisher smashed a two-run shot to right center field to score Jackson, putting Charlotte up, 2-0.
 
The two hits and two runs allowed in the first inning would be the only blemishes against Ryan Johnson's stat line. The sophomore from Red Oak, Texas, had a career day with a career-long outing of 7.0 innings, a career-high 12 strikeouts, and no free bases surrendered.
 
DBU broke through offensively in the fourth. Nate Rombach started the inning with an infield single and advanced to third on the next play due to a pair of 49er fielding errors. Grant Jay put the Patriots on the board with a sacrifice fly to drive in Rombach. In back-to-back at-bats, Luke Heefner and Kodie Kolden singled to the left half of the field, taking the lead from Charlotte, 3-2.
 
With Johnson dominating on the mound and the Patriots ahead, 4-2, in the seventh, Nathan Humphreys joined the RBI train with a single to push across Jace Grady from second.
 
An inning later, Heefner earned his second RBI of the night when he scored Ethan Mann, who started the inning with a walk, stretching the difference to four.
 
Alec Baker closed the game for DBU with 2.0 innings of run-less relief along with a trio of strikeouts, a walk, and a hit allowed.
 
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- After an eight-year gap between contests, the Patriots extend their winning streak over the 49ers to seven games. 
- Luke Heefner recorded two RBI on two hits and scored a run.
- All nine DBU offensive starters reached base.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
5 - Five Patriots (Noah Boughton, Jace Grady, Luke Heefner, Nathan Humphreys, and Miguel Santos) stole a base on Friday.
15 - DBU pitching struck out 15 or more batters for the sixth time this season.
20 - Ryan Johnson retired 20 consecutive batters from the bottom of the first through the end of the seventh inning.
 
UP NEXT
DBU and Charlotte return to action tomorrow afternoon for the second game of the weekend series. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 pm CT.
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