DBU (11-9, 2-1 CUSA) vs. TEXAS TECH (13-6, 2-1 B12)
March 16 | Dallas, TX | Joan and Andy Horner Ballpark\

GAME NOTES
 
MULTIMEDIA COVERAGE
Live Video: ESPN+
Live Audio: Patriot Broadcasting Network
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Instagram: @dbu_baseball
Twitter/X: @DBU_Baseball
Facebook: DBU Baseball
 
DBU BASEBALL ON THE AIR
In his 15th season on the air, Brendan Smith delivers all the action from Joan and Andy Horner Ballpark alongside former Patriot coach Nate Frieling. Every DBU home game is streamed live on ESPN+ with an additional audio broadcast on the Patriot Broadcasting Network.
 
LEADING OFF
SERIES WIN TO START CONFERENCE: DBU opened Conference USA play with a series win over New Mexico State, taking two of three games from the Aggies.
OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION: Due in part to 11 home runs, the Patriots scored a total of 48 runs over the weekend, their most runs in a series since scoring 49 versus Sam Houston on April 17-19, 2025.
BENNETT BOMBS: Jake Bennett had back-to-back games with two home runs on Friday and Saturday, his third and fourth multi-home run games of the year.
 
TOP STORYLINES
IT'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT: DBU hosts Texas Tech on Tuesday for the first meeting between the two programs since 2022.
HITTER OF THE WEEK: Jake Bennett's performance last week earned him CUSA Hitter of the Week honors. In 4 games, he went 10-for-17 with 13 RBI, 4 home runs, and 1 double, slashing .588/.682/1.353.
SLUGGING OFFENSE: The Patriots have displayed one of the most powerful offenses in the country, belting 42 home runs (4th in the nation), slugging .563 (13th), and scoring 9.5 runs per game (20th in the nation).
PATIENCE AT THE PLATE: In addition to its power, DBU has displayed premier patience at the plate, drawing the most walks of any team in CUSA (116). Jake Bennett is 5th in the league with 18 walks, and Cooper Neville is 8th with 16 free passes.
HOME RUN THREATS: Four Patriots are among the top 10 home run leaders in CUSA: Jake Bennett (11, 1st), Ryan Martin (6, 5th), Chayton Krauss (5, 9th), and Cooper Neville (5, 9th). DBU is the only team in the conference with more than 2 players in the top 10 in home runs.
SLUGGING MACHINES: Four Patriots are currently among the top 20 in CUSA in slugging percentage: Jake Bennett (.883, 1st), Cooper Neville (.712, 4th), Ben Tryon (.608, 14th), and Ryan Martin (.583, 18th). DBU is one of two teams in the league with 4 players in the top 25 in slugging percentage (Middle Tennessee).
POWER FROM PETTITTE: In his first two career starts as the designated hitter, Luke Pettitte went a combined five-for-eight with a double, two home runs, and eight RBI. In Sunday's win, Pettitte recorded seven RBI on three hits.
CONSISTENT THREATS: Going back to last season, Jake Bennett has a career-best 28-game on-base streak, and Cooper Neville has reached base in 19 consecutive games with a plate appearance.
POWER + AVERAGE: Jake Bennett (1.220), Cooper Neville (1.218), Ben Tryon (1.087), and Ryan Martin (1.010) each own OPS marks above 1.000. Each of them also owns a batting average above .290 and a slugging percentage north of .580.
RED-HOT RELIEVER: Liam Watt has emerged as the premier arm out of the Patriot bullpen, with a 1.21 ERA (2nd in CUSA) and a 0.99 WHIP (4th). In his last 3 appearances, he has surrendered only 1 run on 6 hits and 0 walks while punching out 8 batters in 8.2 innings.
DEFENSIVE DOMINANCE: The Patriots' defense is 2nd in the nation in fielding percentage with a .987 clip. Everyday infielders Dylan Cupp and Chayton Krauss have yet to commit an error this season, and DBU infielders as a group have committed only four errors.
 
SCOUTING TEXAS TECH
CONFERENCE OPENER: Texas Tech began its Big 12 schedule last weekend by taking two of three contests from the Kansas Jayhawks.
PREMIER OFFENSE: The Red Raiders boast one of the country's best offenses, with a .371 batting average (2nd in the nation), a .478 on-base percentage (3rd), and a .621 slugging percentage (3rd). They average 11.4 runs per game, the second-best average nationally.
THREATS TOP TO BOTTOM: All eight of Tech's statistically qualifying hitters own batting averages better than .340. Cade Ferraro (.434), Linkin Garcia (.405), and Kyeler Thompson (.400) are each among the top 10 hitters in the Big 12.
DOUBLE UP: With 59 doubles this season, the Red Raiders lead the country in doubles. Caden Ferraro and Linkin Garcia are tied for second in the Big 12 with nine doubles.
HOME RUN POWER: Robin Villeneuve tops the squad and sits fourth in the Big 12 with eight home runs.
 
SERIES HISTORY
DBU is 11-20 all-time versus Texas Tech in a series that dates back to 2004. The Red Raiders have won the last four meetings with the Patriots.
 
ON DECK
The Patriots make the long trek to Newark, Delaware, for their first-ever series against the Delaware Blue Hens. The three-game conference series begins on Friday, March 20, at 4:00 p.m. CT.