#24 DBU (40-13, 17-7) AT CONFERENCE USA BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
May 22-26 | Ruston, LA | J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park

DBU GAME NOTES (PDF)
 
MULTIMEDIA COVERAGE
Live Video: ESPN+, CBS Sports Network (Championship Game)
Live Audio: Patriot Broadcasting Network
Live Stats: Stat Broadcast
Twitter: @DBU_Baseball
Facebook: DBU Baseball
 
DBU BASEBALL ON THE AIR
Join Brendan Smith and Reagan Ratcliff on the Patriot Broadcasting Network for all the live play-by-play action as DBU competes in the Conference USA Baseball Championship in Ruston, Louisiana.
   
PATRIOT STORYLINES
- DBU finished the regular season in second place in the Conference USA standings, 1.0 game behind Louisiana Tech, and open the Conference USA Tournament this week as the No. 2 seed.
- The Patriots placed a league-high 11 players on the All-CUSA Team. First Team selections included Jaron DeBerry (SP), Ryan Johnson (SP), Chayton Krauss (INF), Conner Mackay (SP), Ethan Mann (OF), and Miguel Santos (INF), while Michael Dattalo (INF), Luke Heefner (INF), Grant Jay (C), and Tom Poole (DH), were tabbed to the Second Team. Luke Pettitte was the lone selection to the league's All-Freshman Team.
- Ryan Johnson was named the CUSA Pitcher of the Year. Johnson owns a 10-3 record in the year, and his 141 strikeouts and 1.81 ERA rank third nationally. Johnson was also named a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award and Dick Howser Trophy.
- Michael Datallo was tabbed the CUSA Newcomer of the Year after hitting .342 with eight home runs and 42 RBI during the regular season. It marks the second straight year that a player from DBU has won that award after Ethan Mann received Newcomer of the Year honors in 2022.
- Luke Pettitte was named the CUSA Freshman of the Year. Pettitte is 3-2 with a 4.17 ERA and has struck out 43 batters while issuing just nine walks in 36.2 innings. It is the second straight year a player from DBU has garnered CUSA Freshman of the Year honors after Grant Jay claimed the award last year.
- DBU head coach Dan Heefner garnered CUSA Keith LeClair Co-Coach of the Year along with Louisiana Tech's Lane Burroughs. It marks the second straight year that Heefner has been awarded the league's top coaching honors.
- Cliff Pennington was named the CUSA Assistant Coach of the Year. Pennington helped coach a Patriot infield that compiled the nation's #2 fielding percentage. Offensively under Pennington, DBU ranks in the top 25 nationally in five categories.
- The Patriots own the #21 RPI in the nation. DBU is 7-1 versus teams with RPI rankings in the top 25 and has compiled 12 wins over teams inside the top 100.
DBU's starting pitching and defense have been strengths in 2024. The Patriots rank second nationally in fielding percentage (.983) and seventh in ERA (3.94). 
- The Patriots' 102 home runs are the most in CUSA, and they are 18 away from passing last year's team for the most home runs in program history.

DBU IN THE CUSA TOURNAMENT
- The Patriots reached the CUSA Championship last year and lost to Charlotte, 5-2.
- DBU went 3-1 at last year's CUSA Tournament. The Patriots won two games over WKU and a game over Rice before falling to Charlotte.

ON DECK
After the conclusion of the CUSA Tournament, DBU will await the NCAA Division I Baseball Committee's decision on the Patriots' placement in the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship. The selection show is on May 27 and begins at 11:00 am CT on ESPN2.