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5
WKU WKU 36-22
7
Winner DBU DBU 42-13
WKU WKU
36-22
5
Final
7
DBU DBU
42-13
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
WKU WKU 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 1 5 7 0
DBU DBU 0 2 0 2 1 1 0 1 X 7 10 0

W: DeBerry, Jaron (6-1) L: HEATH, Cole (1-1) S: Mackay, Conner (8)

Miguel Santos

Game Recap: Baseball |

No. 24 DBU Advances to CUSA Championship With 7-5 Win Over WKU

THE RUNDOWN
No. 24 DBU eliminated Western Kentucky in the Conference USA Tournament semifinals for the second consecutive season with a 7-5 win over the Hilltoppers on Saturday at J.C. Love Field in Ruston, Louisiana. The Patriots' victory was highlighted by a three-hit day from Alex Pendergast and another strong performance from the pitching staff to propel DBU to the title game.
 
Western Kentucky made their presence felt early, taking a 1-0 lead in the opening inning on an RBI single from Blake Cavill.
 
DBU quickly tied the game in their half of the second inning after Miguel Santos and Ethan Mann combined for a single and RBI double. Nathan Humphreys gave the Patriots their first lead later in the inning with a squeeze bunt on the right side of the diamond to score Mann.
 
The Hilltoppers would retake the lead on an Ethan Lizama two-run homer with two outs in the fourth. Humphreys and Pendergast added two more runs in the bottom of the inning on a single through the right side and a double to left-center to make it a 4-3 ballgame in favor of DBU.
 
Grant Jay stretched the lead with a sacrifice fly in the fifth, and Pendergast bolstered his stellar performance with a solo shot to left in the sixth to add a couple of vital insurance runs for the Patriots.
 
In the win, Jaron DeBerry improved his record to 6-1 on the season. DeBerry battled through 6.0 innings of work, allowing three runs on just four hits to notch a quality start.
 
Connor Benge made his second appearance at the CUSA Tournament in relief of DeBerry. Benge pitched 1.2 innings, only giving up one hit to help DBU maintain a 6-3 advantage.
 
Facing Tyler Schott in the eighth, WKU hit their second home run with two outs in the contest, this one a solo blast from Cavill to cut the deficit to two. The Patriots were able to pack a counterpunch in the bottom of the inning on a clutch run-scoring single from Michael Dattalo to put DBU up 7-4.
 
Patirot closer Conner Mackay was called on to seal the win for DBU. Mackay allowed one run on Lizama's second homer of the game but was otherwise flawless. In the ninth, Mackay induced two flyouts and struck out Brady Browning to send the Patriots to the championship.
 
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
 - DBU advances to the CUSA Championship for the second straight year.
- The Patriots are also making their ninth conference championship appearance in the last 11 years.
- DBU has won 10 of their last 11 games.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
8 – Conner Mackay's eight saves are tied with Chandler Arnold (2022) and Stuart Pudenz (2012) for the eighth-most saves in a single season in program history.
22 – Ethan Mann's 22 doubles are tied for the fifth-most in a single season in DBU's Division I era.
6 – Alex Pendergast leads the team with six hits in the tournament.

UP NEXT 
DBU will compete in the Conference USA Championship on Sunday afternoon against the winner of the Louisiana Tech and Liberty semifinal. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. at J.C. Love Field in Ruston, Louisiana.
 
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Scoring Summary

Score By Innings
Play WKU DBU
WKU TOP 1st Cavill, B. singled to center field, RBI (0-0); O'Connell, D scored. 1 0
DBU BOT 2nd MANN, E. doubled to left center, RBI (0-0); SANTOS, M. scored. 1 1
DBU BOT 2nd HUMPHREYS, N grounded out to 1b unassisted, SAC, bunt, RBI (0-1 K); MANN, E. scored. 1 2
WKU TOP 4th Lizama, E. homered to right center, 2 RBI (3-2 BBBKFF); Baran, J. scored. 3 2
DBU BOT 4th HUMPHREYS, N singled through the right side, RBI (3-2 BKBBF); MANN, E. scored. 3 3
DBU BOT 4th PENDERGAST, doubled to left center, RBI (0-0); HUMPHREYS, N scored. 3 4
DBU BOT 5th JAY, G. flied out to cf, SF, RBI (2-0 BB); POOLE, T. scored. 3 5
DBU BOT 6th PENDERGAST, homered to left field, RBI (1-1 SB). 3 6
WKU TOP 8th Cavill, B. homered to left field, RBI (2-1 BSB). 4 6
DBU BOT 8th DATTALO, M. singled to right field, RBI (1-1 FB); PENDERGAST, scored. 4 7
WKU TOP 9th Lizama, E. homered to center field, RBI (1-1 BK). 5 7

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