THE RUNDOWN

The No. 17 ranked DBU Patriots (13-5) fell to the UTSA Roadrunners (16-5) Saturday afternoon in a game where 26 total runs were scored. Patriot starter James Ellwanger continues to see his pitch limit increase in his return from last year's injury, as he eclipsed the 70-pitch mark for the first time this season. 

Scoring opened in the bottom of the second when Michael Dattalo launched a solo home run to center field. 

In the top of the fourth, UTSA would score their first run via a dropped third strike with two strikes. Ellwanger retired the next hitter to escape the fourth with zero earned runs. 

Grant Jay led off the bottom of the fourth with a five-pitch walk, setting the table for a Chayton Krauss opposite-field blast, breaking the tie and giving the Pats a two-run lead. 

That lead would be short-lived and the last time the Pats held an advantage this afternoon.

Ellwanger was pulled after allowing a two-out single in the top of the fifth, ending his day with 4.2 innings pitched, one earned run, and five strikeouts on 71 pitches.

The DBU bullpen allowed 13 earned runs while trying to record the last 13 outs of the game, four of which came in the top of the sixth.

The Patriot bats would rattle off a five-run sixth to knot the game up at eight, highlighted by a Nathan Humphreys two-out, three RBI triple.

UTSA would scratch another seven runs across in the final three innings, and the Patriot offense couldn't keep up despite a 452' bomb off the bat of Tom Poole, and Nathan Humphreys' third home run in the last three games.

The Roadrunners, even while surrendering 11 runs, only used two arms to get through the Patriots today.

THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

- The Patriots now hold a 12-9 lead in the all-time series against UTSA.

- Today marked the seventh game this season where the DBU pitching staff reached double-digit strikeouts.

- Today's game snapped a streak where DBU had at least one stolen base in eight straight games.
 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

4 - Today marked the second time this season that DBU swatted four home runs and lost (Feb 28 at Oral Roberts).

98 - James Ellwanger topped out at 98 miles per hour on his fastball.

1 - The Patriots only received one hit from the 6-9 spots in the lineup.

ON DECK

The Pats (13-4) and Roadrunners (15-5) continue their weekend series, gearing up for a rubber match. Sunday's first pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.