THE RUNDOWN
No. 24 DBU Baseball pieced together a dominant 8-0 win over Central Michigan on Friday night at Horner Ballpark. In his second start of 2024, pitcher Ryan Johnson, was masterful, tossing 7.0 innings, allowing just two hits, and recording a staggering career-high 13 strikeouts.
 
Wasting no time getting ahead on the scoreboard, Miguel Santos connected on a single to right field, scoring Alex Pendergast and giving the Patriots a 1-0 lead after the first inning.
 
Despite the fast start, DBU was unable to score again until the fifth inning. This was largely due to Central Michigan starting pitcher Adam Mrakitsch recording seven strikeouts.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, Santos broke the game open when he launched a two-run homer over the left field wall, bringing home Ethan Mann and making it a 3-0 ballgame.
 
As Johnson continued to blank the Chippewas' offense, the Patriots continued to attack in the following inning with Mann's fielder's choice scoring Michael Dattalo to add another run.
 
DBU began to put the game on ice in the seventh after Luke Heefner blasted a single up the middle with the bases loaded, bringing home Santos and Chayton Krauss.
 
Finishing out the inning, Keaton Grady earned his first RBI as a Patriot as he scored Cody Grebeck on a single.
 
Closing out the scoring, Grant Jay reached home on a throwing error, producing the game's final score, 8-0.
 
After Johnson's brilliant performance ended, Conner Benge entered to close out the contest in the eigth inning. Benge was reliable down the stretch, pitching 2.0 innings, allowing only two hits, and logging two strikeouts to close out Central Michigan.
 
DBU is now 5-0 in 2024 after Friday night's win.

THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Ryan Johnson recorded a career-high 13 strikeouts and is now eighth on the Patriots' all-time strikeout list after passing Kragen Kechely.
- Migual Santos has homered in three straight games.
-The Patriots are now 11-1 all-time versus teams from the Mid-American Conference.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
4 – DBU only allowed four hits in the series opener.
7 – The Patriots' offense scored 7 runs in their final four innings to secure the victory.
6 - Grant Jay and Miguel Santos combined for six hits.

DBU HEAD COACH DAN HEEFNER & RYAN JOHNSON'S POSTGAME COMMENTS


UP NEXT
DBU Baseball will continue their series with Central Michigan on Saturday with a 2:00 pm first pitch at Horner Ballpark.
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