THE RUNDOWN
DBU's offense exploded in a 15-1 victory over Middle Tennessee in game one of Thursday's doubleheader. The Patriots jumped on the Blue Raiders early with a nine-run first inning, and the pitching staff held MTSU to just one run through seven innings to secure the dominant win.
 
Michael Dattalo and Chayton Krauss sparked the offense right out of the gate, blasting consecutive home runs to start the game for DBU. The Patriots would take a 4-0 lead after Ethan Mann and Nathan Humphreys each hit RBI singles into left field.
 
DBU would stay aggressive, adding a couple more runs on a sacrifice fly from Alex Pendergast and a Dattalo RBI single through the right side.
 
Closing out the first, Krauss homered for the second time, this one a three-run shot to put DBU up 9-0 over Middle Tennessee.
 
In his last start of the regular season, Ryan Johnson pitched 4.0 innings, gave up four hits and one walk, registered four strikeouts, and allowed one earned run. With the Patriots' victory, Johnson earned his 10th win of the 2024 season.
 
The only run Johnson allowed was a Trace Phillips solo home run in the second to reduce the lead to eight. DBU responded back in the following inning, starting with an RBI single slashed to right center by Tom Poole.
 
Miguel Santos stretched the lead to 12-1 with a two-run homer over the left field wall, putting the run-rule into effect. Poole joined the slugging party with a two-run bomb of his own, further distancing the Patriots from the Blue Raiders.
 
Charlie Atkinson was the only reliever Coach Heefner turned to in game one and did not disappoint. In 3.0 innings of action, Atkinson gave up two hits and no walks, recorded a pair of strikeouts, and did not allow any earned runs.
 
Scoring the final run of the seven-inning affair was Pendergast, who reached on an error to score Mann, giving DBU a 15-1 advantage.
 
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Four Patriots had a multi-hit game versus Middle Tennessee.
- Ryan Johnson 10th win of the year is the third most in a single-season in DBU's Division I era.
- Michael Dattalo and Chayton Krauss opened the game with consecutive home runs.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
19 – DBU enjoyed a season-high 19-hit game against the Blue Raiders.
4 – Tom Poole and Chayton Krauss each finished with a 4-hit game.
14 – DBU sent 14 batters and totaled 11 hits in their nine-run first inning.

UP NEXT 
DBU will go for its 40th win of the season and the series victory over Middle Tennessee in game two of Thursday's doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for approximately 45 minutes after the conclusion of game one.
  Read Full Article