THE RUNDOWN
The No. 17 ranked DBU Patriots (17-8, 3-1 CUSA) defeated the New Mexico State Aggies (14-12, 2-2 CUSA) Friday night to take a 1-0 series lead at Presley Askew Field. Patriot starter Micah Bucknam garnered five innings of work, allowing just two earned runs and striking out four on 93 pitches. Bucknam improves to 4-0 on the season.

The Aggies would open the scoring, scratching a run across in the bottom of the first on a 3-6-3 double play. 

DBU would respond in the next half inning: Keaton Grady ripped a one-out opposite-field single through the five-six hole, which set the table for Luke Heefner's second home run of the season, giving the Pats a 2-1 lead.

A leadoff triple in the bottom of the second would lead to a sacrifice fly for the next Aggie hitter, knotting the game at two.

To lead off the top of the third, Grant Jay launched his 51st career home run down the right field line, giving the Pats the lead again. Nathan Humphreys would work his way into scoring position with two outs, but DBU couldn't add to the lead in the third.

In the bottom of the third, NMSU would scratch two across on an RBI single and an RBI groundout, reclaiming the lead for themselves.

However, the Pats would break the game open in the top of the fourth. With one out, Jay knotted the game at four with a sacrifice fly with the bases juiced. Humphreys would follow the sac fly with a walk, loading the bases again with two outs for Chayton Krauss. Krauss then pulled a grand slam over the left-center field wall, handing the Pats a four-run lead, but that wasn't the end. Joey Nerat singled and stole second before Grady drew a full-count walk. Dylan Schlaegel would punch an opposite-field single to score both runners following a throwing error. Heefner would follow with an RBI double that would drive in Schlaegel and cap the rally, making it 11-4

Bucknam would toss a clean bottom half before the Patriot offense added to their lead in the fifth. Jay absorbed a hit by pitch, and Nathan Humphreys drove him in with a double off the right field wall. 

The Aggies would manufacture a run in the bottom of the fifth via an RBI single.

Krauss was handed another bases-loaded situation in the top of the sixth and would cash in with an RBI single that scored Michael Dattalo.

Liam Watt would pick up the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings out of the pen. Watt would surrender a two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh in an otherwise clean outing. Watt struck out four in his three innings of work.

Cody Grebeck would add the final insurance markers in the top of the eighth in his lone at-bat of the night with a two-RBI single to make it 14-7.

Mason Swinney slammed the door in the ninth, striking out two in a three-up, three-down frame.

THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Chayton Krauss led the game with five RBIs.
- Tonight was Luke Heefner's first three-hit game of the season.
- DBU launched six more extra-base hits than NMSU this afternoon (8-2).

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
12 - The Pats brought 12 batters to the plate in a seven-run top of the fourth.
21 - 21 total runs in a game is the third-highest run total that the Patriots have seen this season (27-5 W vs MTSU, 11-15 L vs UTSA).
3 - Tonight was the third time this season that the Patriot offense swatted three home runs or more on the road (Seven times at home).

ON DECK
The Patriots and Aggies continue their weekend set following DBU's Friday night win. Saturday's first pitch is scheduled for 5:00 pm and James Ellwanger will toe the rubber for DBU.