THE RUNDOWN
The No. 17 ranked DBU Patriots (20-11, 5-4 CUSA) took down the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (27-5, 6-3 CUSA) by a four-run deficit, avoiding a sweep Sunday afternoon at Horner Ballpark. The Patriot pitching staff tossed nine innings of one-run ball, stranding 14 base runners throughout the game.
Scoring opened in the bottom of the first, when Nathan Humphreys drove in Tom Poole with an RBI groundout. Chayton Krauss followed Humphreys' at-bat with a sac-fly to score Grant Jay, making it 2-0 after one.
Runs would come to a halt until the top of the fifth, where Western Kentucky would scratch across their lone tally via an RBI groundout.
Patriot starter Ryan Borberg tossed 5.1 innings allowing one earned run on six hits while striking out three. Borberg used 71 pitches to get 16 outs. Tyler Schott and Zach Todd finished the top of the sixth.
In the bottom of the sixth, Chayton Krauss doubled and later came around to score on a passed ball, making it 3-1.Â
In the bottom of the seventh, Nathan Humphreys blasted a two-run homer over the right field fence to add to the Patriot lead.Â
Todd would throw two scoreless before passing the baton to Mason Peters, who recorded the last four outs of the game on 15 pitches.
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THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Tom Poole drew two walks today, increasing his team-leading walk total to 28.
- With his ninth home run, Humphreys moves into second place on the team leaderboard behind Grant Jay.
- Mason Peters made his first home appearance in nearly three weeks (March 18, TCU).
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INSIDE THE NUMBERS
14 - Western Kentucky stranded 14 base runners this afternoon.
1 - The DBU pitching staff has allowed one run or fewer in six games this year.
4 - Mason Peters faced four hitters, retiring each one to seal the game.
ON DECK
The Patriots turn their attention to the No. 10 ranked Oklahoma Sooners (23-8, 5-6 SEC) as DBU concludes their first non-conference home-and-home series of the year. Tuesday's first pitch is scheduled for 6:30 pm.
