THE RUNDOWN
A three-run fifth inning by DBU (27-9, 12-3) was just enough to win a close contest with Florida Atlantic (22-15, 7-8) on Sunday in Boca Raton. The three-win weekend gives DBU its first conference road series sweep as a member of Conference USA and extends the Patriots' win streak to 10 games.
 
Nicholas Del Prado was sharp early in his start for FAU. He struck out four Patriot batters through the first two innings and avoided damage in the second when DBU put advanced runners to second and third but failed to convert either into a run.
 
Zach Heaton limited the damage from the Owls in his start but conceded his first home run of the season in the second, a solo shot by FAU's Dylan Goldstein. Heaton kept the Owls off the scoreboard for the next two innings and turned it over to his offense for support.
 
In the fifth, Grant Jay lined a leadoff home run over the right field wall to tie the game at one. Later, with runners on second and third, Ethan Mann pushed a ground ball through the left side twith two outs o score Luke Heefner and George Specht.
 
Down, 3-1, FAU sent seven batters to plate in the home half of the same frame, ending Heaton's day with an Armando Albert walk to put runners on first and second. In need of one out, Tyler Schott relieved Heaton, but Mitchell Hartigan hit an RBI single up the middle to narrow the margin to one run. Zane Russell took the ball after Schott faced one more batter, forcing a fly out to end the inning and preserving the 3-2 advantage for DBU.
 
The Patriots could not scratch another run across for the remainder of the game, but that was no matter as Brady Rose and Kyle Amendt closed the game for DBU without surrendering a run in four innings of work. 
 
Amendt recorded his eighth save of the season to send the Patriots home with their tenth straight win.
 
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- DBU held FAU to no more than three runs in each game of the series.
- The Patriot bullpen did not allow a run all weekend, giving up seven hits opposite 11 strikeouts and eight walks.
- Zane Russell made his first appearance on the mound since March 19. He induced a fly out from the lone batter he faced.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
8 - Kyle Amendt's eighth save of the year puts him in a tie for seventh place the program single-season saves record.
10 - DBU's 10-game winning streak is its first double-digit winning stretch since 2015.
13 - Miguel Santos extended his career-high hitting streak to 13 games
 
HEAD COACH DAN HEEFNER ON THE 10-GAME WINNING STREAK
"It's all about the process, and baseball is a long season. And you're only as good as your next game, so we just got to keep plugging away. Obviously, the thing we love about this team—and we loved coming into the season—is that they're together, they're connected, they work hard, and that needs to continue to be the message. Nothing changes. That's what allows us to be successful, so you got to just continue with that."
 
UP NEXT
The Patriots host I-20 rival UT Arlington on Tuesday at Horner Ballpark with first pitch slated for 6:30 pm.
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