THE RUNDOWN
Wednesday night, (4) DBUÂ defeated (7) Kennesaw State by a score of 6-0, as the Patriots took down the Owls in their first pool-play game of the CUSA Tournament.
Liam Watt was masterful across eight shutout innings, allowing a measly two baserunners across the entirety of his outing.
Ben Tryon,
Mac Rose, and
Brooks Sartain each left the yard to propel DBU to a 6-0 victory.
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After a three-up, three-down top of the first, the Patriots drew first blood in the bottom half.
Cooper Neville led off the inning with a single and advanced to third on a
Chayton Krauss single. With one out in the inning, Neville came in to score on a passed ball delivered by Kennesaw State's starter Nolan Sliver.
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The score would remain 1-0 until the bottom of the sixth, as both starters flourished. Through five innings, the only Owl to reach base against Watt was center fielder Chris Cole, who singled through the right side. Watt had struck out four hitters through his first five innings of work.
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Sliver would make it through four and two-thirds innings before being lifted for Cooper McMullen. McMullen would record the last out in the fifth, but the Patriots would scratch two runs off of him in the sixth before his day would be done.
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In the bottom of the sixth,
Chayton Krauss led off the inning with a single, before the next hitter,
Ben Tryon, jumped the yard with a two-run home run to right field.
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DBU would add on to their 3-0 lead in the bottom of the eighth:
Mac Rose crushed a two-run homer to right center following a
Jake Bennett lead-off single.
Brooks Sartain would lift a solo shot over the wall in right-center later in the inning to make the score 6-0.
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Athan Kroll would relieve Watt in the ninth, tasked with protecting the six-run advantage. Kroll would do just that, tossing a three-up, three-down inning to seal a Wednesday night victory.
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THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Tonight was the second-longest outing of the season for Watt in terms of innings, finishing three outs shy of his second complete game of the season.
- Tryon's homer was his tenth of the season, becoming the sixth Patriot to reach double digits this season.
- For the second time this season, DBU pitchers finished the game without allowing a single walk or hit by pitch.
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INSIDE THE NUMBERS
2 - Two hits against is the lowest mark allowed by Patriot arms this season.
3 - For the 17th time this year, DBU hitters swatted three home runs.
4 - For the fourth time this season, the Patriots finished a game without allowing an extra-base hit.
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ON DECK
DBU will continue its quest for a Conference-USA Tournament crown on Friday, as the Patriots take on Missouri State (9) in their second pool-play game. The Bears will be playing on back-to-back days, as they are set to face Kennesaw State on Thursday afternoon.
