THE RUNDOWN
The DBU Patriots (26-11, 9-4 CUSA) bulldozed the Sam Houston State Bearkats (8-30, 2-11 CUSA) in just seven innings, making a statement in the series opener at Horner Ballpark. Starter Micah Bucknam tossed four scoreless frames, striking out six in the effort.
The Pats opened the scoring with a five spot in the bottom of the first. With two outs in the inning, Ben Tryon ripped a two-run double before Landon Underhill stepped up and launched his first homer as a Patriot, driving in three. Underhill's blast traveled a dazzling 467 feet.
In the bottom of the second, Nathan Humphreys, Keaton Grady, and Jake Bennett hit back-to-back-to-back solo home runs with two-outs, amassing 1,170 feet of combined distance.
In the bottom of the third, Grant Jay drove in Underhill on a fielder's choice, making it 9-0 after three.
Ben Tryon's RBI double in the fourth plated the tenth run before Michael Dattalo drove Tryon in with a single, making it an 11-run game.
Bucknam was relieved for Avery Duncan in the fifth, and Duncan would deliver a clean fifth and sixth.Â
The Pats would rattle off five more in the fifth via a Keaton Grady RBI single, a wild pitch, another Ben Tryon RBI double, and two RBI groundouts.Â
In the bottom of the sixth, Keaton Grady hit a sacrifice fly to plate DBU's 17th and final run of the night.
Duncan would start the seventh but would be removed after recording an out and loading the bases. Athan Kroll was called upon to finish the job and recorded the final two outs after facing five hitters.
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- The Pats extend their active win streak to seven games.
- Tonight marked DBU's tenth run-rule victory of the season.
- Ben Tryon is the first Patriot to have a four-double game since 2011 (Jason Krizan).
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
17 - 17 hits is the most the DBU offense has recorded this year.
17 - 17 runs is the second-highest clip the Patriot offense has posted this season (3/17, 25 vs MTSU).
4 - Tonight marked the seventh time the DBU offense has hit four or more home runs in a game this year.
ON DECK
The Patriots continue their series with the Bearkats on Friday at 3:05 pm. James Ellwanger (1-1, 4.25) will toe the slab for DBU.
