THE RUNDOWN
No. 17 DBU improved to 12-1 on the season after a 9-2 win over San Diego on Friday night at Horner Ballpark. Fueled by a seven-run sixth inning, the Patriots cruised to their third straight win as they took the series opener over the Toreros. In the 9-2 victory, Ryan Johnson pitched 7.0 scoreless innings to earn his second win of 2024.
 
In a pitching duel between two stellar starters, the Patriots struck first in the third inning when Miguel Santos reached on a fielder's choice to bring home Luke Heefner for a 1-0 lead.
 
The following inning, Chayton Krauss connected on a single to left field to score Ethan Mann and give the home team another run.
 
On Friday night, it was the sixth inning that DBU decided to break the game open. The momentum was sparked after Alex Pendergast laid down a sacrifice bunt, and a throwing error on Toreros' third baseman Jack Costello allowed Mann to score for the second time. Next up, Heefner delivered an RBI single to left-center, advancing Tom Poole home and extending the Patriot lead to 4-0 over San Diego.
 
Krauss would follow with his second RBI of the ballgame, this one to right-center, scoring Pendergast to add the third run of the inning. Closing the sixth, Grant Jay added the exclamation mark with a booming grand slam over the wall in right to give DBU a commanding 9-0 lead.
 
On the mound, Ryan Johnson was masterful in his second win of the season. In 7.0 shutout innings, Johnson allowed five hits and walked just one, while registering eight strikeouts.
 
Dillon Haines was the first reliever out of the bullpen, pitching two-thirds of an inning and allowing two earned runs. Securing the final out of the inning was Myles Martinez, who gave up a walk before forcing a groundout to escape the eighth.
 
Getting the opportunity to close out the series opener was Krauss, who made his first appearance on the mound for the Patriots on Friday night. To finish off San Diego, he allowed one hit, recorded a strikeout, and clinched the win with a fly ball to right field.

THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- DBU improves to 9-0 at Horner Ballpark in 2024.
- Ryan Johnson became the seventh pitcher in the Patriots' Division 1 era to eclipse 200 career strikeouts.
- 12-1 is DBU's best record through the first 13 games in the program's Division 1 era.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
5 - The Patriots collected five two-out RBIs versus the Toreros.
4 - Grant Jay has hit four home runs in the last three games.
31 - Ethan Mann has reached base safely in 31 consecutive games.
 
UP NEXT
DBU Baseball looks to secure a series victory against San Diego on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 pm. Read Full Article