THE RUNDOWN

The DBU Patriots (27-11, 10-4 CUSA) lit up the Sam Houston State Bearkats (8-31, 2-12 CUSA) needing just seven innings Friday afternoon at Horner Ballpark. Patriot starter James Ellwanger threw four scoreless, striking out seven in the effort. Today marks DBU's 11th run-rule win of the season.

The Pats' 1-5 hitters all recorded a hit to open the bottom of the first. Nathan Humphreys drove in Keaton Grady to score the first run, before Chayton Krauss launched an opposite-field home run to make it 4-0.

In the bottom of the second, Krauss lofted a sacrifice fly to score Grady and increase the lead to five.

DBU scored nine runs in the bottom of the third, highlighted by three home runs. Jake Bennett and Landon Underhill led off the inning with back-to-back solo homers, and Underhill eventually came around and homered again with two outs in the inning. While the Pats were batting around the order, Luke Heefner scored on a wild pitch, Krauss lined a two-RBI double, and Ben Tryon launched a sac fly.

The fifteenth run of the game came across in the bottom of the fourth in the form of a Grant Jay groundout.

SHSU would scratch one across in the fifth off of Ashton Branson. Branson finished the inning with a strikeout. Rian Schwede would relieve Branson in the sixth.

In the bottom of the fifth, Jake Bennett would come across to score on a Cody Grebeck fielder's choice. 

For the 12th consecutive inning this weekend, the Pats would scratch runs across in the bottom of the sixth. Adam Berghult and Dylan Schlaegel ripped back-to-back homers to plate the 17th and 18th runs of the afternoon. 

In the seventh, Schwede conceded three runs but ultimately finished the job, sending the Patriot faithful home early on Good Friday.

THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

- The Patriots extend their active win streak to eight games.

- The DBU offense finished one hit shy of matching their season-high total for hits (17).

- Landon Underhill is the first Patriot to swat two homers in one inning since Chayton Krauss did it in the first inning on May 16, 2024, against Middle Tennessee State.
 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

6 - Six home runs is the most DBU has hit in a single game this season.

2,461 - Patriot bats swatted 2,461 feet worth of home runs this afternoon.

18 - DBU's 18 runs is now the second most they've scored in a single game this season.
 

ON DECK

The Patriots wrap up their series with the Bearkats on Saturday at noon. Ryan Borberg (3-4, 4.12) will toe the slab for DBU.