THE RUNDOWN
In their first midweek contest of the season, the DBU Patriots (4-0) took down the Abilene Christian Wildcats (3-2) by a score of 12-3 Tuesday night at Horner Ballpark.
Jake Bennett launched his third and fourth home runs of the season to propel the Patriots to their fourth consecutive win to open the 2026 campaign.
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Bennett's first homer of the night came with nobody out in the bottom of the first, a two-run shot to right-center field on an outside changeup, giving DBU a 2-1 lead.
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Jerrod Jenkins finished his day with a three-up, three-down top of the second, before
Cooper Neville added to the Patriots' lead with a sac fly, scoring
Dylan Cupp.
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Liam Watt relieved Jenkins in the third, striking out two in another one-two-three inning, before DBU erupted for four runs in the bottom half. Cupp doubled home
Chayton Krauss,
Ryan Martin scored on a wild pitch, and Neville drove home two with a two-out single, making it 6-1 after three innings.
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Watt tossed a scoreless fourth, and Krauss added more insurance in the bottom half with an RBI single to center field, scoring Bennett.
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At this point, DBU sent a different pitcher to the mound each inning until the game's completion.
Athan Kroll's turn came in the fifth, and he delivered a one-two-three inning.
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ACU would scratch two across off
Michael Benzor in the sixth, but the Patriot bats would respond with two runs of their own via a
Landon Underhill bases-loaded walk and a
Dylan Cupp sac fly. This made the score 10-3 in favor of DBU.
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Armani Knipper and
Ashton Branson tossed scoreless frames in the seventh and eighth innings, setting the stage for
Jake Bennett's second home run of the night to lead off the bottom of the eighth. Later in the inning,
Dylan Cupp drove in a run with a single to right, making it 13-2 DBU heading to the ninth.
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JT Long made his Patriot debut in the top of the ninth, and he struck out the first two hitters he faced before getting the next batter to pop up to Cupp at shortstop, sealing DBU's fourth win of the season.
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THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
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Jerrod Jenkins is the first DBU arm this year with both a save and a win on his season line.
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Jake Bennett became the first Patriot to accrue 20 total bases in 2026.
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Athan Kroll has yet to allow a baserunner in 2.1 innings of work this season.
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INSIDE THE NUMBERS
3 - Head coach
Dan Heefner now sits three wins removed from his 700th career victory.
845 -
Jake Bennett launched 845 feet worth of home runs tonight.
1.129 - DBU currently owns an elite team-OPS of 1.129.
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ON DECK
Following Tuesday's win, the Patriots will make their way to San Antonio for a weekend road clash with UTSA (4-0, 0-0 AMERICAN). Friday's first pitch is scheduled for 4:00 pm.
