DALLAS (Interstat) — Chayton Krauss homered and drove in three runs, leading a potent Dallas Baptist offense to a 10-5 victory over Texas-Arlington in nonconference baseball Tuesday night at Ellis Davis Field House.

The Patriots, improving to 22-15, overcame an early five-run deficit, with Krauss’s two-run homer in the sixth inning serving as the decisive blow. The first baseman finished 3 for 5, extending a strong stretch at the plate. The loss dropped the Mavericks to 14-21.

Texas-Arlington ambushed Dallas Baptist starter Aiden An in the first inning, sending nine men to the plate. Harold Laracuente and Xavier Melendez delivered RBI singles, and the Mavericks capitalized on two walks to build a 5-0 lead before an out was recorded. Patriots reliever Russ Smith entered and escaped further damage, beginning a string of effective bullpen work that stabilized the game.

Dallas Baptist immediately chipped away in the bottom half. Ben Tryon tripled home a run and later scored on Krauss’s first RBI single, cutting the lead to 5-2. The Patriots then seized control with a four-run third inning, capitalizing on a pivotal error. With two on and one out, a sacrifice bunt by Cooper Neville was misplayed by Mavericks pitcher David An, loading the bases. After two strikeouts, catcher Adam Berghult cleared them with a three-run triple, giving Dallas Baptist a 6-5 advantage. All three runs were unearned.

The Mavericks responded in the top of the fourth. After a single by Clark Springs, Preston Knott launched a two-run homer to right field off reliever Tate Hess, briefly reclaiming a 7-6 lead. The Patriots again turned to their bullpen, summoning Max Luzarraga, who ended the threat and began a dominant stretch. Luzarraga earned the win with three perfect innings of relief, striking out four.

Dallas Baptist pulled away for good in the sixth. Luke Pettitte’s RBI double tied the game, and An Martin’s single gave the Patriots the lead. Krauss followed by launching a two-run homer to center field off Zach An, extending the lead to 10-7 and effectively putting the game out of reach.

The Patriots’ relief corps was the story behind Krauss’s big night. After Smith provided 2 2/3 innings of scoreless work, Luzarraga, Michael Benzor and Athan Kroll combined for 5 2/3 hitless innings, allowing just one walk while striking out nine. Landon Murphy and Hayes Melville each provided scoreless outings for Texas-Arlington in the loss.

The Mavericks collected nine hits but stranded multiple runners in key situations, including leaving the bases loaded in the eighth inning after Kroll entered to strike out two batters. Dallas Baptist finished with 12 hits, led by Krauss and Tryon, who went 3 for 4 with three RBIs.

The most important sequence of the game was the bottom of the third inning, where Dallas Baptist transformed the game’s momentum. After the Patriots’ early rally, they trailed 5-4. Krauss led off with a double, and Neville reached on the critical error by the pitcher. Two strikeouts nearly let Texas-Arlington off the hook, but Berghult’s two-out, two-run triple flipped the score and initiated a run of eight unanswered Dallas Baptist runs that decided the contest.

The Patriots have now won four straight, while the Mavericks have lost two of their last three. Dallas Baptist also won the previous meeting between the teams this season, 6-1, on Feb. 24.