THE RUNDOWN
Friday night, DBU (22-16, 11-5 CUSA) fell to Liberty (27-10, 12-4 CUSA) by a score of 17-3, putting an end to the Patriots' four-game win streak in the form of a run-rule loss.
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Liam Watt and Liberty's Ben Blair combined to deliver a scoreless first inning, before the Flames drew first blood in the top of the second with a Jaxon Sorenson solo home run.
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In the bottom of the second,
Ryan Martin led off the inning with an eight-pitch walk, bringing
Chayton Krauss to the plate. In a 1-1 count, Krauss received a hanging slider, and he sent it a whopping 480 feet over the left-center field wall, giving DBU a 2-1 lead.
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The advantage would be short-lived, as Liberty was able to piece together a total of 15 runs across the next two innings: six in the third, and nine in the fourth. The Flames recorded 13 base hits and worked four walks in the process. After the fourth, Liberty led 16-2.
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Dillon Haines inherited a situation with two men on base and nobody out in the fifth, and he recorded three straight strikeouts to turn in a scoreless fifth.
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Riley DeCandido drove in Liberty's 17th run with a one-out double in the sixth.
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Needing six runs to avoid a run-rule loss, the Patriots were able to get one back with a
Luke Pettitte lead-off home run in the seventh inning, but Liberty's Jackson Evans would strike out the next three hitters he would face, putting an end to the weekend opener.
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THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- During his active seven-game hit streak,
Chayton Krauss has launched three home runs.
- Tonight was the first time DBU allowed six runs or more in consecutive innings since May 27, 2022 (Evansville).
- The last time the Patriots lost by 14 or more runs was on March 14, 2023 (16, Oklahoma State).
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INSIDE THE NUMBERS
35 -
Jake Bennett has reached base in 35 consecutive games.
1 -
Tate Hess,
Dillon Haines, and
Avery Duncan combined to allow one earned run across 3.2 innings pitched.
4.41 -
Liam Watt still holds the lowest ERA within DBU's starting rotation.
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ON DECK
The Patriots continue their weekend set with the Flames tomorrow afternoon.
Ryan Borberg is scheduled to take the hill at 3:05 p.m.
