THE RUNDOWN

The No. 17 ranked DBU Patriots (19-11, 4-4 CUSA) dropped game two of the weekend to the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (27-4, 6-2 CUSA) in a seven-inning contest at Horner Ballpark. The Patriots fell to .500 in conference play following their run-rule loss to the Hilltoppers. 

In the top of the first, the Hilltoppers scored three runs: two came in on an RBI single, and the other on a passed ball. Patriot starter James Ellwanger recorded three strikeouts across the entirety of the first. 

Ellwanger would be removed after the third inning in a 5-0 game after allowing seven hits while striking out five. After two consecutive non-ideal starts, Ellwanger will look to get back in the left-hand column next weekend against Jacksonville State.

Liam Watt would toss a scoreless fourth before allowing six total earned runs in the fifth and sixth innings. 

Down 11, Athan Kroll made his sixth appearance of the season in the seventh inning and tossed a clean frame in just 14 pitches.

Western Kentucky blanked the Pats in the bottom of the seventh, ending Saturday's game early.

THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

- The last time the Patriots were shut out at home was April 17, 2021, against Air Force.

- Chayton Krauss was the only Patriot with an extra-base hit this afternoon, a leadoff double in the second inning.

- WKU's 17 hits are a season-high for the Hilltoppers.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

0 - This afternoon was the first time all season that DBU didn't draw a walk.

7 - The Patriot offense only garnered seven base runners all game, the second-lowest number of the season (six against LSU).

0 - DBU bats have yet to leave the yard in this series. The last time the Pats were homerless in consecutive games was March 1-2 at Oral Roberts.

ON DECK

The Patriots conclude their weekend series with Western Kentucky on Sunday following Saturday afternoon's loss. Sunday's first pitch is scheduled for 1:05 pm.