THE RUNDOWN

The DBU Patriots (31-13, 14-5 CUSA) took down the Florida International Panthers (26-20, 9-9 CUSA) in a back-and-forth game on Friday night at Horner Ballpark. Patriot starter James Ellwanger made his first Friday start of the season and tossed 5.1 innings, striking out six and allowing one earned run.

In the opening frame, Ellwanger stranded two baserunners in a scoreless inning. In the bottom half, leadoff hitter Keaton Grady worked a lengthy at-bat before taking the ninth pitch he saw 422 feet over the right field wall.

The Panthers would scratch one across in the top of the second before Joey Nerat and Keaton Grady ripped RBI doubles in the bottom half re-claiming the lead and making it 3-2 after two.

FIU knotted the game in the top of the third via a one-out RBI single.

Both teams would be scoreless until the bottom of the fifth when Landon Underhill launched a two-run shot under the right field wall.

The Patriots would tack on two more in the bottom of the sixth after loading the bases. Adam Berghult drew a full-count walk before Mason Swinney was drilled in the elbow, making it 7-2 after six frames.

The top of the seventh got away from the Pats, as Nick Bonn and Zach Todd allowed a combined seven runs to come across, which gave away the lead.

DBU began to claw back in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases for Adam Berghult with two away. Bergie then lined a ball off the wall to score the third and second base runners, but the go-ahead run was gunned at the plate by 20 feet.

Jerrod Jenkins was tasked with the eighth inning and delivered a scoreless frame.

In the bottom of the eighth, Joey Nerat worked a leadoff walk and made his way to third following a two-base error on a pickoff attempt. With one out, Grant Jay lofted a sacrifice fly to medium-deep left field giving DBU a 10-9 lead.

Jenkins was given the ninth and retired the first two hitters with groundouts. The next batter walked on four pitches which brought up Kishon Frett, FIU's leader in nearly every offensive category. Frett worked a full count but was tardy on the payoff pitch, ending the game.

THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

- James Ellwanger threw 97 pitches tonight, which set a new career high.

- For the 25th time this season, the Patriot pitching staff did not allow a home run.

- Leadoff man Keaton Grady reached base in five of his six plate appearances.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

3 - Both teams plunked three hitters tonight.

4 - FIU's leading offensive contributor Kishon Frett struck out four times tonight.

13 - For the 13th time this season, the Patriot offense recorded 13 hits.

ON DECK

The Patriots continue their weekend set with FIU following Friday's win. Ryan Borberg (2-2, 4.30) will toe the slab for DBU.