Dallas Baptist University Athletics

THE RUNDOWN
DBU (27-20, 15-8 CUSA) lost a back-and-forth battle with Louisiana Tech (28-20, 15-8 CUSA) on Saturday at Horner Ballpark, 5-4. The teams were tied at four runs apiece through five innings, and a one-run seventh inning gave the win to LA Tech.
 
Both offenses posted runs early. Ryan Borbeg punched out a pair of Bulldogs in the opening half-inning, but Colton Coates ripped a fly ball over the right-center fence for the game's first run. The first two Patriots were retired, but Luke Pettitte worked a full-count walk, which gave Chayton Krauss a window for his 15th home run of the season. On the first pitch of his day, Krauss pulled a 399-foot shot to left field to score Pettitte and himself, giving DBU a 2-1 lead after the first.
 
Borberg maneuvered out of a jam in the top of the second, and his offense tacked on a tally in the home half. Ryan Martin drew a 3-2 walk to start the inning and took second on a groundout to third by Keaton Grady. Ben Tryon split the gap between the second baseman, Colton Coates, and the first baseman, Trey Hawsey, on a grounder to right field for an RBI single to make the margin two runs.
 
LA Tech answered back in the top of the third via a three-run double off the bat of Matt Houston, and the Bulldogs threatened again in the fourth. LA Tech put runners on first and second with two out, but Russ Smith, having taken over for Borberg, induced a pop-up to first base by Coates to keep the score at 4-3.
 
Smith kept the Bulldogs off the board in what would be 2.1 innings of work, and the Patriot bats picked up a run in the fifth. Dylan Schlaegel walked on a full count to lead off the frame, and Jake Bennett pushed him to third on a single up the middle. Chasing LA Tech starter Hudson Rowan, Luke Pettitte slashed a short chopper off the new arm, Thomas Allen, to third base. Colby Lunsford elected to get the out at first instead of attempting the out at home, allowing a charging Schlaegel to touch the plate and tie the game at four.
 
In the seventh, the Bulldogs exercised patience at the plate, eliciting three walks and a hit to add one run. With the bases loaded and one out, JT Long quenched the fire by striking out the final two batters of the inning to keep the deficit at one run for DBU, 5-4.
 
The Patriots notched a pair of hits in the last three innings but could not force a run across, granting LA Tech the series-tying win.
 
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- The Patriot bullpen arms of Dillon Haines, Armani Knipper, JT Long, and Russ Smith combined for 5.2 innings of work, allowing just one run while punching out six batters.
- With two hits on Saturday, Luke Pettitte registered his 15th multi-hit game of the season.
- DBU scored four earned runs against LA Tech's starting pitcher, Hudson Rowan. It was the most earned runs a team has scored against the lefty since March 21.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
46 - Chayton Krauss' first-inning home run was the 46th of his career. He is now in sole possession of fourth place on DBU's all-time home run list.
191 - Krauss' homer also gave him 191 career RBI, moving him into sole possession of second place on DBU's career RBI rankings.
4 - JT Long punched out a season-high four batters on Saturday.
 
UP NEXT
The Patriots and the Bulldogs wrap up their CUSA series with a rubber match on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. at Horner Ballpark.
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