THE RUNDOWN

The No. 13 DBU Patriots (38-14, 21-6 CUSA) defeated the Liberty Flames (30-25, 10-17 CUSA) 6-0 on Saturday afternoon at Worthington Field in Lynchburg, Virginia as Mason Peters, Luke Pettitte, and Nick Bonn combined to throw the fourth no-hitter in the Patriots' NCAA Division I era to close out the regular season. Peters, who was making just his third start of the season, struck out 10 batters over six innings and allowed just one batter to reach base before Pettitte and Bonn combined to work the final three hitless innings on Saturday.

After Keaton Grady walked to lead off the ballgame and Grant Jay reached base on an error, both runners advanced on a passed ball. Chayton Krauss then delivered an RBI ground out, scoring Grady to give the Patriots an early 1-0 lead. 

In the third with two outs in the inning, Grant Jay launched his nineteenth home run of the season to center field to extend the DBU lead to 2-0. 

The Patriots added to their lead in the fourth when Ben Tryon walked to lead off the inning and Michael Dattalo singled, putting runners on the corners with one out. Landon Underhill then hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Tryon to give DBU a 3-0 lead. 

On the mound, DBU starter Mason Peters was masterful through his six innings of work, retiring eighteen of the nineteen hitters for the Flames that he faced while recording a career-high 10 strikeouts. 

In the top of the seventh, after the Patriots loaded the bases with two outs, Chayton Krauss delivered a clutch two-run single to extend the lead to 5-0. DBU was then able to manufacture a run on a double steal as Nathan Humphreys got in just before the tag from Flames' catcher Tucker Moore to give the Patriots a 6-0 lead. 

In the bottom of the seventh, Luke Pettitte came on in relief for the Patriots. Making his first appearance since February 22nd, Pettitte retired three out of the four batters he faced in his inning of work. In the eighth, Nick Bonn relieved Pettitte and retired all six batters he faced, striking out Tanner Marsh to close out the game and secure the no-hitter.

THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

- Mason Peters, Luke Pettitte, and Nick Bonn combined to throw the first nine-inning no-hitter for the Patriots since Rodney Brantley against UT Arlington on February 25, 2006. 

- Grant Jay hit his 61st career home run this afternoon. 

- Michael Dattalo extended his hitting streak to 13 games, tying his season high. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
10 - Mason Peters recorded a career-high ten strikeouts this afternoon. 
21 - The Patriots won 21 Conference USA games this season, the second most victories in conference play in program history. 

54 - Grant Jay extended his on base streak to 54 consecutive games dating back to June 1, 2024. 
 

UP NEXT
The Patriots will compete in the first round of the Conference USA tournament against the Liberty Flames on Wednesday at Worthington Field in Lynchburg, Virginia. First pitch is scheduled for 3:05 p.m. CST.