THE RUNDOWN
The No. 15 ranked DBU Patriots (15-6, 1-0 CUSA) took down the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders (12-9, 0-1 CUSA) in seven innings Friday night at Horner Ballpark. Patriot starter Micah Bucknam tossed seven scoreless innings for a technical complete game shutout.

Chayton Krauss has driven in the first Patriot run in each of the last three games and did so tonight with a double off of the left field wall. Jake Bennett would draw a bases-loaded walk to give DBU a 2-0 lead after one.

Michael Dattalo and Tom Poole set the table for a Grant Jay RBI single in the bottom of the second before Nathan Humphreys and Krauss would each launch a sac-fly, making it 5-0 after two.

DBU would chase MTSU's starter in the third, and scoring for both sides would halt until the bottom of the sixth.

The Pats would bring four around in the bottom of the sixth via two run-scoring singles off the bats of Humphreys and Joey Nerat and a passed ball that scored Krauss.

After Bucknam K'd the side in the top of the seventh, the Pats were able to load the bases before Joey Nerat called game with a single up the middle, forcing the ten-run mercy rule.

THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Micah Bucknam struck out every Blue Raider in the starting lineup at least once.
- Bucknam's 14 strikeouts are a new career-high.
- Every Patriot in the starting lineup reached base safely at least once tonight.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

1,000 - Tonight marked Dan Heefner's 1,000th game as a head coach (667-332-1).
6 - Out of DBU's 15 wins, six have come without a home run.
3 - Patriot hitters were plunked three times tonight, matching a season high.

ON DECK
The Patriots and Blue Raiders continue their weekend set, with Saturday's first pitch scheduled for 3:05 pm.