THE RUNDOWN
No. 17 DBU (7-3) bounced back from a game-one loss to Oral Roberts (6-3) in a pitchers' duel at Chapman Park. After dropping the series opener, the Patriots relied on stellar pitching and timely hitting to even the weekend set.
 
The Patriots struck first in the second inning when Landon Underhill hit an RBI single to score Joey Nerat from second base. DBU looked to make it a multiple run inning but ultimately left he bases loaded.
 
Pitching on both sides defined the game for the next four innings. ORU's starter, Nathan Love, limited the Patriots to just two hits and one run across his five innings of work, and DBU's James Ellwanger matched with four innings of shutout baseball in his four frames. Once the starters made their respective exits, the bullpens from both sides continued to put zeros on the scoreboard, as ORU's Easton Teel and DBU's Jerrod Jenkins kept the game at 1-0 through six frames.
 
The Patriots finally broke the scoreless stretch in the seventh. With Cody Grebeck on third and Michael Dattalo on first, DBU ran an attempted double steal. ORU catcher Matthew Mainord attempted to pick off a diving Grebeck at third, but the throw meandered into foul territory, allowing both Grebeck and Dattalo to cross home plate for a 3-0 Patriot lead.
 
DBU put the game out of reach in the eighth, stringing together three straight singles to start the frame, including a Nerat base hit that scored Grant Jay from third. Later, with the bases loaded, Nathan Humphreys rope a ball into center field, bringing home Jack Bennett and Chayton Krauss to make it 6-0.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, Jerrod Jenkins surrendered his lone run of the day when he plunked second baseman Jack Schark with the bases loaded. Jenkins, who finished the day with six strikeouts in 3.1 innings, was replaced by Mason Peters, who struck out the next batter and induced an inning-ending fielder's choice to hold ORU to the one run.
 
Peters secured the win in the ninth, adding his second strikeout in 1.2 innings of work and earning his second save of the year.
 
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- With Saturday's win, DBU evens the weekend series with ORU 1-1.
- James Ellwanger threw his longest outing of the season with 4.0 IP.
- DBU held the Golden Eagles' four through nine hitters to one hit in 21 at-bats.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
3 - Nathan Humphreys, Joey Nerat, and Dylan Schlaegl combined for three stolen bases.
6 - Six Patriots combined for seven hits.
0 - DBU did not give up an extra-base hit.
 
UP NEXT
The Patriots and the Golden Eagles will play in a rubber match on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at Chapman Park. Read Full Article