DALLAS, TX – Monmouth baseball was defeated by Dallas Baptist 15-4 Sunday afternoon to wrap up opening weekend. Tim Millard had two home runs and five RBI's for the Patriots, while Nick Campana (Downingtown, PA/Downingtown West) hit his first career home run for the Blue and White.

DBU struck for five first-inning runs against MU freshman starter Dan Klepchick (Warrington, PA/Central Bucks South), two of those coming off the bat of Evan Sandmann on a two-run double. The next four runs all came off the bat of Tim Millard, as he hit two-run home runs in the second and fourth innings to extend the Patriots lead to 9-0.

Dallas Baptist added to the lead in the fifth, as Blayne Jones doubled home a run ahead of a three-run homer from Devlin Granberg to extend the DBU lead to 13-0.

Campana hit his home run to left center in the seventh to get the Hawks on the board and MU would add another run on a Zach Schild (Lincroft, NJ/Middletown South) sacrifice fly in the frame. Kyle Norman then knocked in his first two runs in an MU uniform with a base hit the other way in the eighth. DBU closed the scoring with an unearned run in the bottom of the inning.

NOTES AND QUOTES
"Today we fell behind early and really couldn't get back in the game. We battled, but it wasn't good enough. Steckline was excellent on the mound today and it was nice to see Nick Campana hit that home run. Both those guys have been working hard to get their opportunity." – Dean Ehehalt

"All in all, looking back at the weekend, we did some good things. I'm certainly encouraged by what I saw and how we played, however we have a lot of work to do. Looking forward to a good week of practice and getting back at it next weekend." – Dean Ehehalt

-Dallas Baptist sweeps the opening weekend series from Monmouth.
-Nick Campana hit Monmouth's second home run in as many days and his first as a Hawk in his first career at bat.
-Ryan Steckline made his pitching debut for the Hawks, tossing two shutout innings with four strikeouts.
-Shaine Hughes registered a hit for the third game in a row.
-All seven of Monmouth's hits came from a different Hawk.
-Dan Klepchick took the loss in his first career start.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
-MU falls to 0-3, while DBU is 3-0.
-Klepchick took the loss, allowing five runs in the opening inning.
-Luke Eldred fired five one-hit innings for Dallas Baptist to earn the win.
-Millard had three hits, two home runs and five RBI's for DBU.
-MU was outhit 13-7.

UP NEXT
-Monmouth heads to Cary, NC next weekend and will open the weekend Friday against St. John's at 3:00 p.m.