Skip To Main Content

Dallas Baptist University Athletics

Quick Links
5
Dallas Baptist DBU 40-13
8
Winner Middle Tennessee MTSU 20-34
Dallas Baptist DBU
40-13
5
Final
8
Middle Tennessee MTSU
20-34
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Dallas Baptist DBU 0 0 0 0 2 1 1 0 1 5 9 3
Middle Tennessee MTSU 2 2 1 1 1 0 0 1 X 8 12 3

W: Alderman, Chandler (3-5) L: Ellwanger, James (1-1) S: Akens, Ollie (3)

Grant Jay (7) Dallas Baptist Patriots vs Arizona Wildcats in the Frisco Classic at Riders Field in Frisco, Texas on March 1, 2024 (Photo by Eddie Kelly / ProLook Photos)

Game Recap: Baseball |

No. 25 Patriots Fall to Middle Tennessee in Final Regular Season Contest

THE RUNDOWN
No. 25 DBU lost its final regular season game to Middle Tennessee by a score of 8-5 on Saturday at Reese Smith Jr. Field in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The Patriots were forced to fight from behind for most of the game but could not rally to win and finish the regular season in second place in the Conference USA standings.
 
The Blue Raiders jumped out early after Gabe Jennings hit a two-run homer in the first. MTSU was also able to produce two runs in the second via small-ball action, bringing in two runs on sacrifice bunts to take a 4-0 lead.
 
James Ellwanger got the start and lasted 2.0 innings in the series finale. In his appearance, Ellwanger allowed three earned runs and struck out two.
 
MTSU opened up a 6-0 lead after an error in left field and an RBI single to put the Patriots in a significant hole.
 
The Patriots scored their first run of the game on a balk and brought in an additional run in the fifth on a Chayton Krauss RBI single up the middle. The Blue Raiders promptly responded in the bottom of the inning with a run of their own, once again distancing themselves from DBU with a five-run advantage.
 
Grant Jay crushed a solo shot in the sixth, and a failed pick-off attempt led to a run scored by Luke Heefner in the seventh, giving the Patriots a chance down the stretch.
 
Following Ellwanger's exit, Jaron DeBerry and closer Conner Mackay would take the mound for the remainder of the game. In 5.2 innings, DeBerry gave up three earned runs and recorded four strikeouts. Mackay entered in the final third of the 8th, giving up a single but inducing a groundout to get out of the inning.
 
Trailing 8-4 in the ninth after an RBI single from Middle Tennessee, the Patriots cut the deficit to three on an Ethan Mann sacrifice fly. The rally attempt ended there, as the Blue Raiders would hold for a win to salvage the series.
 
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- The Patriots finish 1.0 games out of first place in the Conference USA standings behind Louisiana Tech.
- DBU committed three errors in back-to-back games for the first time this year.
- Grant Jay now leads CUSA in home runs with his 18th of the season.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
50 – Ethan Mann reached 50 RBI for the third straight season in his collegiate career.
39 – Grant Jay has 39 career home runs and is one away from becoming the fifth player in program history to hit 40 homers.
4 – The Patriots had just four hits today with runners on base.
 
UP NEXT 
DBU begins postseason play in the Conference USA Tournament hosted by Louisiana Tech in Ruston, Louisiana. The second-seeded Patriots will face the No. 7 seed New Mexico State Aggies on Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. at the J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park.
 
Print Friendly Version

Scoring Summary

Score By Innings
Play DBU MTSU
MTSU BOT 1st G. Jennings homered to left field, 2 RBI (1-2); E. Snider scored, unearned. 0 2
MTSU BOT 2nd C. Vinson reached on a fielder's choice, SAC, bunt, RBI (0-1); J. Vetetoe advanced to third; B. Vondohlen scored. 0 3
MTSU BOT 2nd E. Snider out at first p to 2b, SAC, bunt, RBI (2-1); C. Vinson advanced to second; J. Vetetoe scored. 0 4
MTSU BOT 3rd B. Vondohlen singled through the left side, advanced to second on an error by lf, RBI (0-1); J. Galloway advanced to third; B. Rutter scored. 0 5
MTSU BOT 4th L. Vinson singled through the right side, RBI (0-1); C. Vinson scored, unearned. 0 6
DBU TOP 5th HEEFNER, L. advanced to second on a balk; PENDERGAST, scored. 1 6
DBU TOP 5th KRAUSS, C. singled up the middle, RBI (2-2); HEEFNER, L. scored, unearned. 2 6
MTSU BOT 5th B. Holloway doubled to center field, RBI (0-1); J. Galloway scored. 2 7
DBU TOP 6th JAY, G. homered to left field, RBI (2-2). 3 7
DBU TOP 7th DATTALO, M. failed pickoff attempt; HEEFNER, L. scored on an error by p, unearned. 4 7
MTSU BOT 8th E. Snider singled to shortstop, RBI (0-2); G. Snider scored. 4 8
DBU TOP 9th MANN, E. flied out to rf, SAC, RBI (1-2); KRAUSS, C. scored. 5 8

Related Headlines