DBU (0-0, 0-0 CUSA) vs. BINGHAMTON (0-0, 0-0 AEC)
February 13-15 | Dallas, TX | Joan and Andy Horner Ballpark

GAME NOTES (PDF)
 
MULTIMEDIA COVERAGE
Live Video: ESPN+
Live Audio: Patriot Broadcasting Network
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
X: @DBU_Baseball
Facebook: DBU Baseball
 
DBU BASEBALL ON THE AIR
In their 15th season on the air, Reagan Ratcliff and Brendan Smith deliver all the action from Horner Ballpark to Patriot fans. Every DBU home game is streamed live on ESPN+ with an additional audio broadcast available on the Patriot Broadcasting Network.
 
PROBABLE STARTERS (All stats from 2025.)
Friday
DBU: RHP Russ Smith (9-1 W-L, 3.60 ERA, 55.0 IP, 71 K, 14 BB) (Spent 2025 at Cowley County Community College)
vs.
BING: RHP Hayden Tarsia (4-4 W-L, 5.43 ERA, 69.2 IP, 57 K, 19 BB)
 
Saturday
DBU: RHP Jared Schaeffer (2-7 W-L, 4.31 ERA, 85.2 IP, 79 K, 20 BB) (Spent 2025 at Akron)
vs.
BING: RHP Conner Griffin (2-1 W-L, 6.27 ERA, 18.2 IP, 23 K, 20 BB)
 
Sunday
DBU: RHP Ryan Borberg (9-4 W-L, 3.38 ERA, 80.0 IP, 79 K, 20 BB)
vs.
BING: RHP Brady Bouchard (3-5 W-L, 9.69 ERA, 56.2 IP, 47 K, 18 BB)
 
2025 IN REVIEW
POSTSEASON STANDARD: DBU punched its ticket to the NCAA postseason for an 11th straight season last year, earning the No. 2 seed at the Baton Rouge Regional. The Patriots are one of just five programs nationwide—joining Florida, LSU, Oklahoma State, and Vanderbilt—to reach 11 consecutive NCAA Regionals.
CUSA POWERHOUSE: The Patriots captured the 2025 Conference USA regular season championship, continuing their dominance since joining the league in 2023. In just three seasons, DBU has claimed two regular season titles (2023, 2025) and the 2024 CUSA Tournament crown.
PRO PIPELINE: DBU's talent was on full display in last year's MLB Draft, with five Patriots selected overall. The class was highlighted by James Ellwanger, who went 88th overall to the Minnesota Twins
 
PATRIOT STORYLINES
PICKED TO REPEAT: DBU was tabbed as the preseason favorite to capture the 2026 CUSA title, earning the top spot in the CUSA Preseason Coaches Poll.
TOP PRESEASON HONOR: Fifth-year senior Chayton Krauss was named the CUSA Preseason Player of the Year after finishing last season ranked in the top 10 in six different offensive categories across the league.
VETERAN CORE, FRESH FACES: The Patriots return 17 lettermen from a year ago while adding 21 newcomers to the roster.
RETURNING FIREPOWER: DBU welcomes back three First Team All-CUSA selections in Ryan Borberg (RHP), Keaton Grady (INF), and Chayton Krauss (INF). All three were also named to the 2026 Preseason All-CUSA team, joined by Jake Bennett (DH).
BORBERG IN CONTROL: Senior right-hander Ryan Borberg returns as the anchor of the pitching staff after leading CUSA in wins (9), WHIP (1.19), and walks allowed per nine innings (2.25) last season.
POWER PLAY: Despite the departure of the program's all-time home run leader, Grant Jay, DBU brings back 44 percent of its total home run production from a year ago.
TRANSFERS ADD PUNCH: The Patriots' roster includes six Division I transfers: Michael Benzor (LHP - Houston), Dylan Cupp (INF - Mississippi State), Jude Hall (OF - Southeastern Louisiana), Tate Hess (RHP - Louisiana), Mac Rose (C - Vanderbilt), and Jared Schaeffer (RHP - Akron).
HEEFNER NEARS MILESTONE: Head coach Dan Heefner enters the 2026 season with the ninth-highest winning percentage (.668) among active NCAA Division I coaches and sits just seven wins shy of his 700th career victory.
EXPLOSIVE LINEUP: DBU looks to build on an offense that ranked in the national top 25 in six categories last season, including No. 16 in slugging percentage (.527), No. 20 in doubles (129), home runs (100), and home runs per game (1.69), and No. 23 in walks (327).
DEFENSIVE EXCELLENCE: The Patriots finished No. 16 nationally in fielding percentage (.979) last season and have ranked inside the top 20 nationally in each of the past two years.
 
SCOUTING BINGHAMTON
BACK FROM THE TOURNAMENT: Binghmaton is coming off a 29-26 season in which the Bearcats won the America East tournament and earned a berth in the Athens Regional of the NCAA tournament. It was the program's second appearance in the national bracket in the last four seasons.
FAVORITES AGAIN: For the third time in the last four years, Binghamton is the preseason favorite to win the America East.
EXPERIENCE IN THE ROTATION: A trio of returners comprises the starting rotation for the Bearcats in Brady Bouchard, Conner Griffin, and Hayden Tarsia. Last season, Tarsia, a Preseason All-America East selection, led the team in ERA (5.43) and innings pitched (69.2). Bouchard is back for his sophomore season after receiving America East All-Rookie Team honors, while fellow sophomore Griffin flashes a fastball in the upper 90s.
TOP RETURNING TALENT: Sophomore center fielder Matt Bolton was the other Bearcat named to the Preseason All-America East team. Losing the top three team leaders in batting average to graduation, Bolton has the highest batting average among returners from 2025 with a .347 mark.
CONSISTENT IN THE MIDDLE: Shortstop Mike Stellrecht and second baseman Zack Kent provide a veteran presence in the middle infield for Binghamton. The senior duo committed only 11 errors in 422 chances for a combined fielding percentage of .983 in 2025.
 
SERIES HISTORY
The Patriots and the Bearcats will meet for the first time since 2011 on Opening Weekend. DBU leads the all-time series, 4-2.
 
ON DECK
The Patriots will complete a four-game homestand to begin their 2026 campaign by hosting Abilene Christian on Tuesday, February 17. First pitch for DBU versus ACU is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. at Horner Ballpark.