DALLAS -- Dallas Baptist used three unearned runs in the second inning to take an early lead before adding five more runs throughout to secure a series win over Indiana State, 8-1, Saturday night at Horner Ballpark.
Roby Enriquez provided the lone offensive spark for the Sycamores (34-13, 11-6 MVC) in the game as he belted his third home run of the season with a line drive over the fence in right field to close the gap to 5-1 with the Patriots in the top of the fourth.
Enriquez went on to showcase his arm strength in the bottom of the fourth after throwing out Dallas Baptist leadoff man Blayne Jones who looked to score from first with a rocket to the plate to keep the Patriots off the scoreboard and end the inning.
The Patriots (35-15, 11-6 MVC) led early on, using three hits as well as a leadoff error in the second. Andres Sosa plated the first run of the night with a sacrifice fly to left to score Jackson Glenn who reached on a throwing error on a ball hit deep to third. Augie Isaacson sent two more runs across with a two-out triple to right field.
Dallas Baptist got two more runs an inning later when Luke Bandy doubled in a runner with a ball to the gap in left. Evan Sandman flew out to center, deep enough for Glenn to come home on the sacrifice fly after walking earlier in the frame.
Nine-hole hitter Herbert Iser made the Sycamores pay in the sixth with a two-run; two-out home run to right field. Bryce Ball homered in the seventh to extend the DBU lead to 8-1 with a ball over the centerfield wall.
Collin Liberatore (9-1) suffered his first loss of the season after going six and one-third innings in his 13th start. The right-hander allowed five earned runs on nine hits while striking out seven and walking three.
Austin Cross was solid out the bullpen for the Sycamores. The right-hander did not allow a hit in an inning and a third while striking out one.
DBU's MD Johnson improved to 8-2 on the season after giving up just one earned run in seven complete innings. The right-hander struck out seven and walked just two of the 26 batters he faced.
The Patriots outhit Indiana State 9-5 in the game and finished .444 (4-for-9) with runners in scoring position while ISU was 0-3.
UP NEXT
The series finale with Dallas Baptist is scheduled for Sunday at 3 p.m. ET from Horner Ballpark. The action will air on Patriots All-Access while
Luke Martin will have the radio call on GoSycamores.com/Watch.
For the latest information on the Sycamore Baseball team, be sure to visit
GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media on
Facebook,
Twitter and
Instagram.
